RDI Growth Programme for Health and Wellbeing 

The aim of the RDI Growth Programme for Health and Wellbeing is to support the wellbeing services counties in renewing themselves in order for them to better promote people’s health and wellbeing and improve the quality and availability of services. The programme brings together wellbeing services counties, businesses and researchers so that they can together develop and make use of the best practices and the latest technology in the field. At the same time, the programme boosts Finland’s position as a frontrunner in cutting-edge technology in the health and wellbeing sector.

The health and wellbeing sector is growing fast around the world. The development focus areas include, in particular, the digitalisation of healthcare systems, the data economy and personalised forms of treatment. The sector has significant economic potential, but international competition is fierce. For this reason, the key aim of the programme is to make Finland an internationally known and attractive destination for research, development, innovation and investments in the health and wellbeing sector. The programme also supports the internalisation of Finnish businesses in the health sector so that they can expand their operations and boost their competitiveness in the global market

In addition, the programme aims to respond to the global challenges facing the health and wellbeing sector, such as the availability, effectiveness and cost-efficiency of services and the sufficiency of personnel.

The programme is part of the Government Programme.

Programme improves the productivity of the health and wellbeing sector

The key programme measures are:

• intensifying RDI cooperation between wellbeing services counties, businesses, higher education institutions, research institutions and start-ups
• marketing Finnish expertise, technology and research globally
• making the sector more competitive in the international market
• strengthening the role of the wellbeing services counties in RDI activities and promoting the adoption of new solutions
• updating the programme measures flexibly because the operating environment is changing rapidly and technological development is progressing at an accelerating pace.

 

• Main themes and measures of the RDI Growth Programme for Health and Wellbeing (in Finnish)

Cooperation with partners, such as businesses, is important

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for coordinating the packages and measures under the programme. The programme is a continuation of the Health Sector Growth Strategy for Research and Innovation Activities published in 2014 and implemented by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

The programme is promoted jointly by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Each Ministry has their own set of measures to achieve the objectives set out in the Government Programme.

The Ministry of Social Affairs and Health is responsible for the following measures under the programme:

1. strengthening the RDI activities of the wellbeing services counties 
2. clarifying the legislation on research and development activities in the healthcare and social welfare sector 
3. establishing the activities of national competence clusters 
4. improving opportunities for the commercialisation of digital solutions
5. piloting a reimbursement model for digital treatments
6. increasing cooperation with international partners.

The following partners are also involved in the programme: national and international businesses, the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, the Research Council of Finland, Business Finland, the wellbeing services counties and higher education institutions.

The programme is officially entitled the Research, Development and Innovation Programme to Boost Growth and Renewal in the Health and Wellbeing Sector.