Health Innovation Hub given green light

September 22, 2011

Health Innovation Hub given green light

The Canterbury District Health board is delighted the Ministers of Health and Economic Development have approved the establishment and funding of the New Zealand Health Innovation hub.

The Hub will involve a small team of clinical leaders and commercialisation experts, based in Canterbury and the three metro Auckland District Health Boards. Dr Helen Lunt has been appointed as Canterbury’s Clinical Director Innovation to lead the southern arm.

The Hub’s projected cost is around $24 million over five years, with the Government committing $3 million to the project and the balance made up of public and private sectors.

David Meates, Canterbury District Health Board chief executive, says the Health Innovation Hub is about connecting the health system with industry in development, validation and commercialisation of health technology products and service innovations.

“The Canterbury Health System is thrilled to be a part of this exciting initiative,” Mr Meates says.

“They will provide services to help develop ideas generated by clinicians or industry into business propositions, products or services.”

The foundation stakeholders are Counties Manukau, Waitemata, Auckland and Canterbury District Health Boards.

It will also have association relationships with universities, Crown Research Institutes and industry groups.

The Hub will have a central executive and independent governance board, an advisory panel of internationally recognised experts to advise on the commercial and clinical viability of each business case.

The Hub will provide three types of services:
1. Testing and reference site services: It will assist international and established domestic companies to collaborate with clinicians to develop and test new products and services. This will include large scale clinical trials and also reference site testing, demonstrating the effectiveness of new products and services in a DHB setting.
2. Commercialisation of Intellectual Property: Staff will work with business, researchers and clinicians to identify and screen projects, help refine the concepts and facilitate access to market research because of diligence, commercialisation and investment expertise.
3. Distribution of Service Improvement Intellectual Property: Innovation in models of care and health services forms valuable IP, which is currently trapped in various pockets of the New Zealand health system. Hub staff will assist in identifying projects and help package ideas for distribution amongst the National Health Board and Health Quality and Safety Commission across the New Zealand health system and potentially for international sale.

ENDS

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