Pediatric Innovation Day 2024 brings together Europe's paediatric innovation ecosystem in Riga

The 4th Pediatric Innovation Day 2024, held in Riga, has established itself as an international benchmark for promoting innovation in paediatric, foetal and maternal health. Under the slogan Advancing Frontiers: Innovations for a healthier future, this edition of the event coordinated by i4KIDS, the paediatric innovation hub of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, in collaboration with the i4KIDS-EUROPE project, brought together more than 150 health professionals, researchers, entrepreneurs, startups, investors and agents from the health sector from all over Europe.

Children Clinical University Hospital of Latvia led the organisation of this event whose main objective is to reflect on the state of innovation in paediatric health and foster collaboration to create an interconnected and mature paediatric innovation ecosystem that improves the health and well-being of children.

A programme focused on innovation

The event was opened by Fátima Núñez, Deputy Director of Research, Innovation and Knowledge Management at the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Barcelona, together with Valts Abols, CEO of the Children Clinical University Hospital of Latvia, and Artjoms Ursulskis, Parliamentary Secretary of the Latvian Ministry of Health. They underlined the importance of joint efforts at European level to address challenges in paediatrics and ensure that innovative solutions reach patients.

One of the key moments of the day was the presentation of the i4KIDS-EUROPE White Paper, which will be published in November. Charlotte Bertaud, Project Officer at EIT Health Spain, advanced some of the key points of this document, based on the ‘Situation report and needs analysis of paediatric innovation in Europe’. This White Paper will provide a strategic roadmap for moving towards more efficient innovation in paediatric health, with specific recommendations that will guide future initiatives in the field.

How to transform paediatric care?

Internationally recognised experts addressed several crucial topics for the future of children’s healthcare such as artificial intelligence, the focus on improving the patient experience and the need to enhance collaboration in a more efficient way.

Representatives from the ECHO – European Children’s Hospitals Organisation network, Malene Fischer, Director of Research at Rigshospitalet, Ann Quinn, Director of Innovation at Children’s Health Ireland and Valts Abols shared experiences and recommendations on the role of innovation as an essential tool in improving paediatric care in healthcare centres.

One of the most inspiring presentations was given by Iain Hennessey, Clinical Director of Innovation at Alder Hey Children’s Health Park, under the title How to Build a Batcave, where he addressed the process of creating disruptive innovation environments within paediatric hospitals.

The Director of Innovation at Great Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, Andrew Taylor, focused his presentation on artificial intelligence and highlighted the potential of this technology to transform paediatric care, making hospitals more efficient and safer.

There was also space to delve into the challenges and opportunities in implementing innovations, 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 together with Tomàs Lóbez, CEO of Nixi for Children, Hans-Peter Dauben, Secretary General of Euroscan and Pekka Kahri, Development Manager, Strategy and Development Unit at HUS.

Innovation in design and experience

How can design enhance the hospital experience? Inguna Elere, Creative Director and Ieva Timosko, multidisciplinary designer at H2E, shared their vision on the intersection between design and innovation in the paediatric field.

In addition, Sys Zoffmann Glud, leader of the BioMedical Design Novo Nordisk Foundation Fellowship Programme, explained the keys to this training for 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 emergency paediatrician at the LSMU Hospital Kauno Klinikos. Both shared their backgrounds and experiences in creating innovations that make a difference in the field of child health.

The event was closed by Arnau Valls, Innovation Coordinator of the Hospital Sant Joan de Déu and Director of i4KIDS, who celebrated the excellent reception of the event by the European ecosystem and the firm commitment to continue fostering the development of joint initiatives in the future.

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 identify disruptive solutions that improve internal processes in paediatric hospitals.

Six companies, Eniax, Sencilia, Tortus, AT-Biotech, Fibbo y Speaknosis, were selected among the 30 companies participating in the call to present their technological solutions to a jury of experts.

The winning company was Sencilia thanks to the development of a sensorised intravenous infusion therapy for safer drug delivery to paediatric patients.

i4KIDS International Mission on Paediatric Innovation

The second i4KIDS International Mission on Paediatric Innovation took place in parallel to the Pediatric Innovation Day 2024 in Riga, consolidating itself as a key activity to foster collaboration and synergies in the foetal, paediatric and maternal health sector. In addition to participating in this reference event, the six members of the i4KIDS network had the opportunity to make institutional visits, meet with public-private entities of the paediatric innovation ecosystem of the Baltic country and share a networking dinner with members of i4KIDS-EUROPE, further strengthening professional links and collaboration networks.

More innovation, more Pediatric Innovation Day

This year 2024 will be exceptional as, in addition to the Pediatric Innovation Day held in Riga, a new event dedicated to innovation in paediatric, foetal and maternal health will be held. It will be held on 21 November at the CosmoCaixa facilities in Barcelona.

Registration for this new edition of Pediatric Innovation Day 2024 in Barcelona is now open: https://www.eventbrite.es/e/pediatric-innovation-day-2024-barcelona-edition-tickets-993533133347