Thursday, November 23, 2023
What opportunities exist for existing and new Medical Delta Living Labs? In what needs should they provide? Over 30 lecturers from the four universities of applied sciences affiliated with Medical Delta came together this week to explore these questions. The outcomes will serve as the foundation for new collaborations and living labs that more closely align with innovation and implementation needs.
Dr. Marleen Goumans, lecturer at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences and director of the Centre of Expertise for Care Innovation, kicked off the event. She emphasized the increasing role of universities of applied sciences within Medical Delta. "We need to add new initiatives and robustly continue existing ones. And this can be achieved by involving new departments and, for example, broadening from care to health."
Transdisciplinary Collaboration
This broadening is also evident within Medical Delta, added Managing Director David de Glint. "With our new strategy, we are moving from interdisciplinary to transdisciplinary collaboration, and we are actively seeking connection with practice. 'Join us' is the call I make to you as well. This way, we give shape and substance to the new Medical Delta programming and make even more impact."
Marijke Will-Janssen, Senior Innovation Manager at Medical Delta, reiterated how unique it is that four universities of applied sciences collaborate so closely, not only with each other but also with practice partners and other stakeholders in the quadruple helix. "Equal collaboration from the start forms the basis for impactful solutions."
In groups, the lecturers were then put to work. New collaborations were formed around practical questions and societal challenges, with co-creation as the key. Participants were challenged to set goals explore what is truly innovative and add value to existing initiatives. It provided valuable input for the next steps.
Learning from Success
"We all know the examples where innovations seem well thought out but ultimately get stuck in implementation," concluded Dr. Ir. Helma Kaptein, lecturer in Healthcare Technology Implementation at Rotterdam University of Applied Sciences. "Let's especially look here at the examples where it has succeeded, and learn from those."
In the coming period, the plans will be further developed, and the intended consortia formed, to start new and renewed Medical Delta Living Labs in the second half of 2024.
View the overview of the current Medical Delta Living Labs here.
