New Nordic-German cooperation will support Nordic health technology companies access the German market

Welfare Tech is part of a new Nordic-German collaboration that step-by-step offer companies insight and clarification in the German health & care market over a 13 months period. The project has received almost 2 million. DKK from Nordic Innovation and is supported by the Nordic prime ministers under the Nordic Solution to Global Challenges initiative.

The Nordic countries are advanced in their implementation of digital health solutions and among the first countries in the world where you see an implementation of scale of health and care technology. With a publicly funded health and social care systems and high standards of health and care services, the Nordic countries have early realized the potential of technology in healthcare and hence invested in Public Private Innovation, together with companies, developing and implementing new digital solutions and care technologies increasing the efficiency and modernisation of public health care.

“Germany has one of the fastest growing populations in Europe with an increasing number of elderly citizens, and the country is experiencing an acute shortage of health and care staff. This offer great opportunities for Nordic companies that develop health and care technology. Even though Germany is a mature technology market, the country is only recently beginning to realize how digitization, automation, robots and other technologies can elevate quality and turn workflows more efficient in the health and care sector, “says Karen Lindegaard, Senior Consultant at Welfare Tech.

Step-by-step over 13 months

The cooperation, named Digital Health & Care 4.0, is headed by five Nordic clusters: Welfare Tech in Denmark; Business Region Gothenburg in Sweden; Norwegian Smart Care Cluster in Norway; Oulu Health in Finland; and Innovation Center Iceland in Iceland. Together with a German cluster, Gesundheitswirtshaft Hannover, they will lead companies that are interested in the German market through a structured and clarifying 6 step course over a period of 13 months. It is not necessary to be a member of the clusters to participate. All health and care technology companies from the partnering countries are welcome to join the activities.

Through seminars and webinars, companies will gain insight into German market conditions and the organization of the health and care sector and the reimbursement-model. A study visit in Germany will provide a first-hand view of the needs of German hospitals and care centers and an insight into the challenges that they are facing, and companies will have the opportunity to expand their personal networks in both Germany and the Nordic countries and build relationships with potential German partners.

Along the way, companies will get a market validation of their products from German experts before the participants finally show their solutions on joint stand at a leading German trade fair.

“Nordic solutions are popular abroad. We have been working with Germany for several years and are experiencing an increasing interest in digital solutions because of the new reforms in the German care sector. The market is huge and potentially promising. But it is also a difficult market, says Lars Jessen, Managing Director of Life-Partners, who in recent years made good experiences in the German market.