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Pediatric Innovation Day 2024, held in Riga and organised by i4KIDS (the pediatric innovation hub at the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital), has solidified itself as a leading international event for the promotion of pediatric, fetal and maternal healthcare.
With the slogan ‘Advancing Frontiers: Innovations for a Healthier Future’, this fourth edition of the event brought together over 150 healthcare professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, startups, investors and healthcare sector figures from all over Europe.
The Children's Clinical University Hospital of Latvia, a member of the i4KIDS-EUROPE project (coordinated by the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital), led the charge in organising this event, which aimed at reflecting on the current state of innovation in pediatric health and encouraging cooperation to improve health and wellbeing of children, and to create an interconnected, mature ecosystem of pediatric innovation.
The event was opened by Fátima Núñez, Deputy Director of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Management at the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital.
An innovation-centred programme
The event was opened by Fátima Núñez, Deputy Director of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Management at the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital, alongside Valts Abols, CEO of the Children’s Clinical University Hospital of Latvia, and Artjoms Ursulskis, Parliamentary Secretary of Latvia's Ministry of Health. They underlined the importance of joining forces on a European level to tackle the challenges in the field of pediatrics, and to guarantee innovative solutions to patients.
One of the key moments of the day was the i4KIDS-EUROPE Whitepaper, due to be published in November. Charlotte Bertaud, Project Officer at EIT Health Spain shared a few key points from the document, based on the ‘Situation report and needs analysis of paediatric innovation in Europe’. This Whitepaper will provide a strategic map towards more efficient innovation in pediatric health, with specific recommendations to guide future initiatives in the field.
Internationally recognised experts covered several themes that are crucial to the future of pediatric health, such as artificial intelligence.
How can we transform pediatric healthcare?
Internationally recognised experts covered several themes that are crucial to the future of pediatric health, such as artificial intelligence, improving the patient experience and the need to foster more efficient cooperation.
Representatives of the network of hospitals associated with ECHO - European Children’s Hospitals Organisation—Malene Fischer, Head of Research at Rigshospitalet; Ann Quinn, Head of Innovation at Children's Health Ireland; and Valts Abols—shared their experiences and recommendations on the role of innovation as an essential tool in improving pediatric care in healthcare facilities.
One of the most inspiring presentations came from Iain Hennessey, Clinical Director of Innovation at Alder Hey Children's Health Park, entitled ‘How to Build a Batcave’, in which he discussed the process of creating disruptive innovation environments within pediatric hospitals.
Director of Innovation at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Andrew Taylor, focused his presentation on artificial intelligence, highlighting the potential this technology has to transform the field of pediatric healthcare, making hospitals safer and more efficient.
There was also time to touch on the challenges and opportunities involved when implementing innovation, exploring market access strategies, value-based care models and innovative public procurement. This panel, linked to the ADD4KIDS project—which is also coordinated by i4KIDS—was moderated by María Sanchís, Senior Open Innovation and Innovative Procurement Manager at EIT Health, alongside: Tomàs Lóbez Pére, CEO of Nixi for Children; Hans-Peter Dauben, Secretary General of Euroscan; and Pekka Kahri, Development Manager at the Strategy and Development Unit at HUS.
Pediatric Innovation Day 2024 was also the venue chosen to host the final of the i4KIDS-EUROPE Hospital Challenge.
Innovation in design and experiences
How can design improve the hospital experience? Inguna Elere, Creative Director, and Ieva Timosko, multidisciplinary designer at H2E, shared their vision of the intersection of design and innovation in the field of pediatrics.
In addition, Sys Zoffmann Glud, leader of the ‘BioMedical Design Novo Nordisk Foundation Fellowship Programme’, explained the key to training innovators in healthcare.
The event continued with the talk ‘Journey of an Innovator’, featuring Emil Syundyukov, co-founder of Longenesis, and Lina Jankauskaite, professor at the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU) and pediatrician at the LSMU Hospital Kauno Klinikos emergency department. Both shared their journeys and experiences creating innovation that makes a difference in the field of pediatric health.
The event was closed by Arnau Valls, Innovation Coordinator at the SJD Barcelona Children's Hospital and Director of i4KIDS, who celebrated the excellent reception of the event by the European ecosystem and the firm commitment to continue fostering a culture of cooperation.
i4KIDS-EUROPE Hospital Challenge 2024
Pediatric Innovation Day 2024 was also the venue chosen to host the final of the i4KIDS-EUROPE Hospital Challenge, a programme designed to help find disruptive solutions that improve internal processes in pediatric hospitals.
Six companies, Eniax, Sencilia, Tortus, AT-Biotech, Fibbo and Speaknosis, were selected out of 30 participating companies in the call to present their technological solutions to a panel of experts. The winning company was Sencilia, thanks to the development of a sensorised intravenous infusion therapy to administer drugs to pediatric patients more safely.
i4KIDS Mission on Pediatric Innovation
The i4KIDS International Mission on Pediatric Innovation took place simultaneously with Pediatric Innovation Day 2024 in Riga, solidifying itself as a key activity in fostering cooperation and synergy in the field of fetal, pediatric and maternal healthcare. As well as taking part in this notable event, six members of the i4KIDS network had the chance to visit various institutions, meeting with public-private entities part of the pediatric innovation ecosystem in Latvia, and attend a networking dinner with members of i4KIDS-EUROPE, further strengthening professional connections and collaborative networks.
More innovation, more Pediatric Innovation Day
It is clear that 2024 will be an exceptional year, because as well as Pediatric Innovation Day held in Riga, a new event dedicated to innovation in pediatric, fetal and maternal healthcare will take place. The event will be held on 21 November at CosmoCaixa in Barcelona.
Registration for Pediatric Innovation Day in Barcelona is already open, so click here to find more information.
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