The Health Innovation Network of the Girona Region has been selected to join the Spanish innovation platform ITEMAS of the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII). The platform dynamises and accompanies the transfer of research to the National Health System, to benefit patients.
A major advantage of the Network for access to the platform lies in the fact that it was already established previously, driven by the Fundació Hospital d'Olot i Comarcal de la Garrotxa (FHOCG). The Network is made up of 13 entities from all over the territory, which join forces to promote the transfer of knowledge to the productive sector.
Now, the Girona Network has managed to become an Innovation Support Unit in the Girona region within the ITEMAS platform, coordinated by the Girona Biomedical Research Institute Dr. Josep Trueta (IDIBGI). This participation, for the period 2024-2026, is accompanied by a grant of 258,000 euros to promote a programme that fosters and consolidates innovation among the participating institutions.
The programme will address several key areas to promote innovation in the health sector. Firstly, specific training for health professionals and researchers will be promoted to ensure that they are equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge. Secondly, it will seek to strengthen connections between the research world and the business sector, civil society and public administrations, with the aim of finding new opportunities for innovation and ensuring the effective transfer of results into practical applications.
Another key aspect of the programme will be the internal analysis of innovative capacities, opportunities and projects within the network in order to offer them support and accompaniment in the process of transferring them to the market. In addition, a financial support programme will be set up to recognise and promote the best innovative initiatives. Finally, emphasis will be placed on communication and dissemination to convey to society the positive impact that the innovations generated have on the health system and the well-being of patients.
"We are very happy to participate in the ITEMAS platform, something that will help consolidate the network and continue to promote the transfer of biomedical research to the productive market, ultimately benefiting society," explains Dr. Marga Nadal, director of IDIBGI. For her part, Neus Domènech, head of innovation at the FHOCG and promoter of the Network, emphasises that "being an initiative promoted in 2021 in a post-pandemic context and after months of work and collaboration between institutions, it is a satisfaction to have achieved this resolution and, therefore, a boost to the consolidation and future of the Network".
The ITEMAS Unit is coordinated by the IDIBGI and is also made up of the Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta Hospital - Catalan Health Institute (ICS) Girona, the Girona Healthcare Institute (IAS), the University of Girona (UdG), the Olot and Garrotxa Regional Hospital Foundation (FHOCG), the Maresme and La Selva Health Corporation (CSMS), the Empordà Health Foundation (FSE), Baix Empordà Integrated Health Services (SSIBE), Albera Salut and Campdevànol Hospital. Clínica Girona and Clínica Bofill, members of the Girona Counties Health Innovation Network, will also be able to participate in the programme, with the institutional support of the Girona Health Region.
The ITEMAS Unit was kicked off today at a ceremony with representatives of these institutions in the Assembly Hall of the Santa Caterina Hospital (IAS), in the Martí i Julià Hospital Park in Salt. The event was attended by the coordinator of ITEMAS in Catalonia, Lluís Blanch, director of the Parc Taulí Research and Innovation Institute (I3PT).
The Platform for Dynamisation and Innovation of the Industrial Capacities of the National Health System (ITEMAS) is one of the platforms of the Carlos III Institute of Health (ISCIII) to support R&D&I in Biomedicine and Health Sciences. For the period 2024-2026, the ITEMAS platform is made up of 26 units spread throughout Spain.
Project code PT23/00084.
