Israel, Finland Launch Digital Health Collaboration Program

The Israel Innovation Authority announced on Tuesday that it has launched together with the Israel-Europe R&D Directorate (ISERD) a collaboration program between Israel and Finland in the field of digital health.

The launch was marked by an event at the Embassy of Finland in Israel.

As part of the program, Finnish and Israeli companies will be invited to submit applications for projects focused on developing innovative products and applications or pilot technologies in digital health including analytics, telemedicine, wearables and sensors, medical devices, among others.

The program will be led by the Israel Innovation Authority and the Helsinki Business Hub, and will provide funding and matching services for Greater Helsinki-based and Israeli companies seeking to partner.

In a press statement, the Israel Innovation Authority said, “Israel and Finland are both leading innovation economies with technology and entrepreneurship at their core. Finland ranks among the strongest markets in healthcare technology in the world, with digital health its largest high-tech export – increasing more than five-fold over the last two decades. Finland is one of the first countries in the world to set up a national digital patient data repository covering both the public and private healthcare sectors. A hundred percent population penetration in electronic health records make Finnish health data unique in terms of breadth and depth.”

“We are thrilled to provide this bridge between the pioneering innovation ecosystems of Israel and Finland, in a field that impacts us all: digital health,” said Aharon Aharon, CEO of the Israel Innovation Authority. “Collaboration with Israeli companies will help Finnish start-ups access groundbreaking technologies that support the country’s progressive health policies, protect Finnish citizens’ well-being, and maintain Finland’s status as a global leader in healthcare technology. This is also an extraordinary opportunity for Israeli companies to connect with Finnish leaders in the digital health ecosystem, gain exposure to new cutting-edge technologies, receive support for meaningful innovations, and tap into the Finnish market.”

“Greater Helsinki is a driving force in Finland’s innovation sector, home to 750 health and life sciences companies, where over 80 percent of tech deals occur in our country,” said Marja-Liisa Niinikoski, CEO of Helsinki Business Hub. “Given Israel’s technological prowess, highly skilled workforce, and record on innovation in digital health, we see endless opportunities for fruitful collaboration.”