From platforms that provide digital processes to shorten patient backlogs and manage staff time more effectively, personal monitors that help people take control of their own health, and a COVID-19 vaccine administered directly into the nose, that can be developed to use against future pandemics, Finnish innovations are leading the way in ground-breaking global health technology and solutions.
COVID-19 and the latest wave of Omicron have resulted in global demand for diagnostic innovations and applications. As we emerge from the pandemic, people are increasingly taking control of their health, and patient and home monitoring devices developed in Finland are helping to empower a healthier life for many.
Finland’s vibrant start-up community is proud to be making great strides in improving healthcare - its tech-savvy expertise, stellar engineering skills, and irrepressible entrepreneurial spirit has made it a giant in the field of medical diagnostics.
Kari Klossner, Head of Smart Life Finland Program, says: “Countries across the world are now moving away from isolation and lockdowns to a way of ‘living with COVID-19’, and dealing with the new challenges it brings. One of the key issues to overcome will be tackling long hospital waiting lists that many countries struggle with. With a backlog of operations, tech is set to be at the forefront to manage waiting times and serve patients faster. For example, automating processes can help reduce administrative burdens and improve the patient experience by reducing the number of pre-operative phone calls. This decreases the time staff spend on preventable conditions, so they are free to dedicate their time to important patient care. Innovations in diagnostic technology will also be highly impactful when conditions can be identified faster and could lead to patients avoiding more invasive treatments later down the line. The world is set to truly ‘learn to live with COVID’ and innovative solutions will greatly help not only with this virus – and other viruses to come – without putting people at risk.”
As the health tech sector grows, Finland is keen to attract the best talents and brightest minds to join its close-knit global community that has led to the country becoming a technological super-power, producing one of the fastest-growing start-up scenes in the world.
New initiatives from Finland-backed health tech start-ups include Deep Sensing Algorithms Ltd (DSA). DSA BreathPass™ is the world’s first ultra-rapid COVID-19 detection technology that analyses exhaled breath. The hand-held breathalyser device - for professional use only - can be used for COVID screening in schools, dental clinics, large workplaces, and for medical office staff, providing immediate results.
Key successes include:
“As a small country, Finland is used to relying on each other and doing things together, sharing a joint goal and the desire to share our knowledge and learnings for the common good,” adds Kari Klossner. “State-of-the-art infrastructure, supporting legislation, world-class research organisations and forward-thinking governmental entities are creating an environment where Finnish healthcare innovations are flourishing. An excellent example of this is our ecosystem thinking, a structure by which research organizations, healthcare providers and commercial companies - ranging from start-ups to multinational corporations - can all work under one roof to share a common agenda and goal."
“Only through collaboration and global partnerships can we develop the technologies and innovations that will help the future of patient care. Finland is committed to bringing talented people, innovations, technology, and businesses together to create health innovations and solutions that will help us achieve this purpose.”
Kari Klossner, Head of Smart Life Finland program, Business Finland
kari.klossner (at) businessfinland.fi
Mia Eloranta, PR & Media Manager, Business Finland
mia.eloranta (at) businessfinland.fi
Business Finland is the Finnish government organization for innovation funding and trade, travel and investment promotion. Business Finland’s over 700 experts work in over 40 offices globally and in 16 regional offices around Finland. Business Finland is part of the Team Finland network. www.businessfinland.fi