Digital Health for All [FA]

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Date of latest update: 2025-02-03

Description

Description (EN):

Digital health is poised to significantly reduce costs and enhance quality in healthcare. In Germany, for instance, digital health could reduce healthcare expenditure by €35 billion annually from a total of €300 billion (McKinsey). With an ageing population around the North Sea (NS) and rising chronic disease rates (EUROSTAT), digital health can greatly alleviate the strain on overstretched healthcare systems. The primary obstacles to digital health adoption within NS health systems and among providers (including over 85% SMEs) are: 1) Getting solutions reimbursed and 2) Attitudes and trust (primarily concerns about patient safety due to insufficient knowledge or evidence of digital health benefits). The DigiH4A project will tackle these challenges by developing innovative solutions, including novel reimbursement pathways (WP1), methods for monitoring health improvements and cost benefits of digital health (WP3), that will both be tested while collaborating with 20 solution providers (WP2), (see the attached effect logic). The project aims to bolster the digital health sector's economic growth by ensuring NS-wide market access for solution providers, mainly SMEs. Additionally, it assists health decision-makers, care providers, and payers in integrating digital health solutions into healthcare systems through a strategic action plan (WP2), aiming to guide at least 30 stakeholders. A transnational strategy is vital for the seamless and swift adoption of digital health across the NS, addressing challenges effectively and fostering healthy competition within NS markets by ensuring access to solutions across all countries. DigiH4A will lay a foundation for digital health expansion, emphasising communication, showcasing success cases and project outcomes, and promoting knowledge dissemination through local knowledge HUBs. By addressing issues at a systemic, international level, DigiH4A accelerates the digital transformation in NS health systems, benefiting all citizens.

Expected Achievements (EN):

WP1 will focus on embedding digital health within multiple local (NS) healthcare systems, aligning them with locally accepted protocols and various payment/reimbursement systems. DigiH4A will achieve this by outlining the most comprehensive reimbursement pathway and developing a replicable Strategy for NS countries. This includes recommendations for health authorities/decision-makers as well as guidance for solution providers (SMEs), facilitated by Knowledge HUBs. WP2 aims to support digital health solution providers in navigating the complex journey towards transnational expansion and becoming viable businesses. It connects outcomes of WP1 and WP3 (see attached effect logic) and culminates in Action Plan, advising care providers and health decision-makers on integrating digital health solutions into healthcare systems. This evidence-based approach aims to facilitate market access for solution providers (mainly SMEs) in the NS region. WP3 aims to enhance decision-making related to digital health innovation and provide supporting evidence for digital health solutions. The objective is to develop an "overall cost-benefit balance" method focused on quantifying cost savings and quality-of-life improvements achieved from the implementation of digital health solutions. The method will be piloted and translated into a publicly available online tool to be taken up by health decision-makers, solution/care providers and payers.

Website: https://www.interregnorthsea.eu/digih4a

Thematic information

Health and social services ICT and digital society Social inclusion and equal opportunities

Priority: (VI-B_NS_1) Priority 1: Robust and smart economies in the North Sea region

Priority specific objective: RSO1.1. Developing and enhancing research and innovation capacities and the uptake of advanced technologies

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO1 A more competitive and smarter Europe by promoting innovative and smart economic transformation and regional ICT connectivity

Type of intervention: 028 Technology transfer and cooperation between enterprises, research centres and higher education sector

Partners (11)

Lead Partner: Innovation Skåne AB

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE556495536601

Address: Scheeletorget 1, 22370 Lund, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Sectoral agency

Website: https://innovationskane.com/start-page/

Total budget: EUR 931 245.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 558 747.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 372 498.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch onderzoek

Name: Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch onderzoek

Partner’s ID if not PIC: BE0244195916

Address: Boeretang 200, 2400 Mol, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://Vito.be

Total budget: EUR 274 805.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 164 883.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 109 922.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Sozialbehörde Hamburg

Name: Sozialbehörde Hamburg

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE118509725

Address: Hamburger Strasse 47, 22083 Hamburg, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Total budget: EUR 310 217.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 186 130.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 124 087.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Sahlgrenska Science Park

Name: Sahlgrenska Science Park

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 55555

Address: Medicinaregatan 8,, 41390 Gothenburg, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://www.sahlgrenskasciencepark.se/

Total budget: EUR 207 207.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 124 324.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 82 883.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Region Midtjylland

Name: Region Midtjylland

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DK29190925

Address: Skottenborg 26, 8800 Viborg, Denmark

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.rm.dk

Total budget: EUR 412 993.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 247 796.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 165 197.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

National eHealth Living Lab (NeLL) [LUMC PHEG]

Name: National eHealth Living Lab (NeLL) [LUMC PHEG]

Partner’s ID if not PIC: NL003566213B01

Address: Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA Leiden, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Other

Website: http://Nell.eu

Total budget: EUR 384 334.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 230 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 153 734.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Karlstads universitet

Name: Karlstads universitet

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE202100312001

Address: Universitetsgatan 2, 65188 Karlstad, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.kau.se

Total budget: EUR 493 072.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 295 843.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 197 229.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Høgskolen I Innlandet

Name: Høgskolen I Innlandet

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 918108467

Address: Postboks 400 Vestad, 2418 Elverum, Norway

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.inn.no

Total budget: EUR 199 784.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 99 892.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 99 892.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen

Name: Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschenschaft und Kunst Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE 154 261 014

Address: Hohnsen 4, 31134 Hildesheim, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.hawk.de

Total budget: EUR 255 325.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 153 195.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 102 130.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Eurasanté

Name: Eurasanté

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR 74409044203

Address: 70 rue du Docteur Yersin, 59120 LOOS, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://lille.eurasante.com/

Total budget: EUR 451 572.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 270 943.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 59.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 180 629.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Biotech Santé Bretagne

Name: Biotech Santé Bretagne

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FR95879737971

Address: Université de Rennes 1 - Campus, 2 Av. du Professeur Léon Bernard, 35000 Rennes, France

Legal status: private

Organisation type: Business support organisation

Website: https://www.biotech-sante-bretagne.fr/

Total budget: EUR 325 858.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 195 515.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 60.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 130 343.00

GBER schemes / de minimis:

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

VITO

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Hamburg Ministry of Social Affairs

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Sahlgrenska Science Park

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Central Denmark Region

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

National eHealth Living Lab (NeLL) LUMC PHEG

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Karlstad University

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Inland Norway University of Applied Science

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

University for applied science and arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Eurasanté

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Biotech Santé Bretagne

Digital Health for All [FA]

Partners and Projects info

Innovation Skåne AB

Digital Health for All [FA]

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Operation of strategic importance (OSI) or above EUR 5 million

Project name (EN): Digital Health for All [FA]

Project acronym: DigiH4A

Project ID: wkKqnJ6GZ

Project start date: 2024-10-01

Project end date: 2028-03-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant mentions and prizes:

false

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 4 246 412.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 427 976.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 60.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 2 427 976.00. Co-financing rate, 60.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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Deliverables:

Digital Health Reimbursement: Baseline analysis / - Study the reimbursement pathways for digital health solutions in the practices of care providers and citizens. Focus on the collective expertise and knowledge of the DigiH4A consortium. - Identify and analyse the differences and challenges within the reimbursement systems across the NS. - Exchange and amplify examples of good practices. - Compile the internal knowledge into report (1), serving as a foundational resource for subsequent strategy O.1.1. development. Led by: HAM
State-of-the-art: Digital Health Market Access (Supplier side) / - Investigate strategies for digital health SMEs to enter NS markets, focusing on chronic disease interventions. - Analyse current landscape, key barriers and highlight integration opportunities into healthcare systems - Conduct internal analysis & interviews (10) with solution providers (SMEs) across NS compiling the market entry know-how. - The task acts as foundation from the solution provider perspective. - Develop a State-of-the-art: Digital Health Market Access Report (1). Led by: BSB
Synthesis of consortium knowledge / - Organisation of (1) internal event for consortium partners - Consortium partners gather to merge knowledge on digital health's cost-benefit balance from various NS countries and research groups. - They'll align on past work, strategise on enhancing current knowledge, and develop a method to enrich the digital health ecosystem. Led by: HAM
Digital Health for All Launch Campaign / - Develop a communication strategy (1), targeting health decision-makers, care providers, payers (insurers/public bodies/patients), and solution providers (SMEs), among others - and detail the most effective means of outreach. - Establish communication channels (3), like the project website, social media (e.g. LinkedIn), and the project newsletter. - Create communication materials to reach a wider audience and to attract participation in workshops (A.1.3) and seminars (A.2.2). Led by: HAWK
Seminars: The true healthcare needs and challenges around digital health implementation (Buyer side) / - Seminars (6) will address needs and challenges faced by healthcare systems in adopting digital health solutions. - Engaging healthcare decision-makers, providers, payers, and SMEs, these seminars aim to understand adoption barriers and demands. - They'll share experiences, and find solutions to align digital health innovation with healthcare delivery. - These are crucial for gathering data for the A.2.3. report as well as for O.2.1., reflecting insights from all key groups involved.Led by: CDR
Co-development of the Overall cost-benefit balance method / - Co-development of a method (1) for care/solution providers, health decision-makers and payers to quantify savings and quality of life improvements of digital health. - Includes metrics like QALY (Quality Adjusted Life Years), avoided DALY (Disability Adjusted Life Year), cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, social ROI. - Based on the analysed metrics, a calculation formula will be defined to assess the impact of digital health solutions for care providers and health decision-makers. Led by: KAU
International Workshops: Towards Successful Launch of Digital Health Solutions / - Co-develop the workshop structure (1)leveraging the consortium's knowledge base from A.1.1. The structure will focus on addressing knowledge gaps and collectively construct a comprehensive overview of the reimbursement pathways in 6 PP countries (excluding NO, which joins with limited budget as a research/advisory partner). - Organise pan-NS workshops (6)to gather insights and perspectives from target audiences (defined in A.1.2.)on the efficacy of existing mechanisms around the NS. Led by: NELL
Assessment of the hurdles and priorities hindering the implementation of digital health / - Write a report (1) compiling A.2.1. and A.2.2. findings, focused on key barriers and priorities hindering digital health adoption in the NS. - Analyse seminar outcomes (e.g. regulatory challenges, integration issues or procurement variations across NS) - Based on the barriers, draft selection criteria will be created for identification methodology in A.2.4. - The report will outline strategic priorities & actionable recommendations, laying the groundwork for the Action plan (O.2.1). Led by: ISAB
Data collection around pilot activities / - Test the method in (20) pilot actions on the digital health solutions identified in A.2.5. to test their impact on the cost-effectiveness and impact on quality of life. - Develop piloting guidelines (1) as a set of actions to be followed in each of the pilots. Led by: VITO
A systemic perspective of digitalisation in health / -Development of a theoretical framework to understand ecosystem transitions and new organisational models. This framework will provide the project with valuable insights into how digitalisation shapes the health ecosystem. -Partners will apply the framework in various contexts, generating data for analysis. -Framework will be validated and refined based on pilot data. -A report with the refined framework will be completed and later presented as a chapter of Strategy O.1.1. Led by: HINN
Selection methodology development / - Build on the A.2.3. criteria and develop a systematic approach to identify and assess digital health solutions for NS region healthcare challenges. - Create an identification methodology (1) to be used in A.2.5. for selection of digital solutions that link closely with the hurdles and priorities identified in previous WP3 activities. Led by: SSP
Evaluation of the co-designed method / - Monitor and document the process of piloting in A.3.3. - Gather data to provide supporting evidence for the 20 solution providers in the A.2.6. case studies. - Gather feedback from the pilot participants to identify areas for improvement of the method in A.3.5. - Compile an evaluation report (1), highlighting strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement. Led by: BSB
Evaluation and identification of Digital Health Solutions / - Open call for digital health solutions via local Knowledge HUBs and project communication channels. - Evaluation of their scalability, impact and other criteria basedon the selection methodology developed in A.2.4. - Selection of solutions (20) from 7 NS countries. - Solutions will later be matched with a reimbursement pathway (A.1.6.) and integrated into the cost-benefit analysis method developed in WP3. Led by: SSP
Optimisation of the method / - Optimise the method based on evaluation of the data collected in A.3.4. - Revisit a update communication framework (1) that enables care experts and stakeholders to understand and interpret the calculated metrics in a meaningful way. Led by: VITO
Development of Reimbursement Pathways / - Design and refine reimbursement pathways for digital health solutions, tailored to the diverse healthcare frameworks of NS countries based on A.1.1., A.1.3. and A.1.4. findings. -Define a set of optimised pathways to aid solution providers in navigating reimbursement protocols, bridging the gap between innovation and economic sustainability in the health sector to be matched with specific solutions in A.2.6. - Compile the newly defined pathways and other findings in a report (1). Led by: ISAB
Knowledge HUBs / - Establish Knowledge HUBs (6) one per each of the project countries (excluding NO which joins with limited budget as a research/advisory partner). - The HUBS will serves as a resource centre (platform/web- site) accessible online to support and guide the providers (mainly SMEs) as well as provide information to health authorities. - The hubs will follow A.3.7. report that will ensure commitment beyond. - The key information source for the HUBs will come from all 3 project outputs. Led by: ES
Matching solutions with WP1 reimbursement pathway & WP3 cost-benefit analysis method / - Align digital health solutions identified in A.2.5. with reimbursement pathways developed in WP1 and WP3 cost-benefit method (detailed links between the 3 WPs in the attached effect logic). - Create case-reports for each of the solutions (20), using A.3.3. data to showcase cost benefits and match them with ideal reimbursement pathways (defined in A.1.5.) helping to support their business case when entering various NS markets. Led by: ES
Translating method to an online guide / - Based on A.3.5. outcomes, create a blueprint (1) for digital online guide to be developed based on the DigiH4A method. - The guide will be a toolkit featuring case studies and calculations based on the previously developed method. - It will serve as a checklist for evaluating the overall cost-benefit balance for specific digital health solutions. - Translate the tested method into a free online guide (1). Led by: KAU
Securing durability / - An internal event (1) with consortium partners to strategise on the online guide's long-term impact and usage. - Plan for the guide's sustained availability through Knowledge HUBs services in A.1.6 and integrate long-term policy recommendations from the tested method into WP1's O1 Strategy. - Co-create report (1) outlining steps for widespread stakeholder adoption. Led by: HAWK
Building up the knowledge base of Digital Health Market Access / - Develop communication materials (1) for the main WP2 target group of solution providers (SMEs), incorporating A.2.3 report findings on digital health market access and A.2.5 insights. - Distribute these resources through 6 Knowledge HUBs (A.1.6.), tailored to each NS country's market landscape. This will be the key material for the local HUB coordinators to support SMEs with market access (next to all the other information that the HUBs provide). Led by: NELL
Promotional Campaign for the Online Guide / - Design a communication campaign (1) starting with a webinar (1) (including live walk-through and expert presentations) to promote the online guide, effectively conveying key messages and generating curiosity among the target audiences (health decision-makers, care providers, payers (insurers/public bodies/patients) and solution providers). - Compose a dissemination plan (1) to utilize promotional channels established in A.1.2. as well as mobilise networks (e.g. ECHAlliance via BSB). Led by: CDR

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

The EU is pursuing a human-centric, sustainable vision for a digital society, empowering citizens and businesses. Digi4All aims to facilitate the adoption of digital solutions by healthcare systems across the NS region and at the EU level by tackling existing reimbursement bottlenecks.
As Europe is embarking on a transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership, this project aims to enhance the uptake of digital solutions by NS healthcare systems. The results and lessons learned from this project will support the adoption of digital health solutions across EU Member States.
Sustainable travel solutions are at the core of the EU's Green Deal strategy. By providing access to digital solutions in rural areas, Digi4All will reduce the existing need for rural citizens to travel to urban areas for medical care.
The Territorial Agenda 2023 has as a priority "to intensify the dialogue with policy makers at all governance levels to coordinate national sector policies between countries and to diminish existing obstacles to cooperation". Digi4All promotes cross-country collaboration to find a common digital healthcare policy. The resulting strategies will significantly reduce reimbursement issues and unlock digitalisation benefits.
Digi4All contributes to the following SDGs: 3 Good health and well-being: Through digitalisation, the sustainability of healthcare systems and thus, improved services to citizens and patients. 8 Decent work and economic growth: Regional solution providers will access new markets, ensuring their growth. 9 Industry, innovation and infrastructure: Innovation is a key driver of economic growth and will support better health infrastructures
One of the objectives of "A Smart North Sea Region" includes smart specialisation strategies, which involves favouring industries that focus on digitalisation. Digi4All will support regional SMEs throughout the entire reimbursement pathway so their solutions can be adopted by healthcare providers.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 256
(RCO84) Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects: 756

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Delivered result indicator(s):

(RCR79) Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations: 2
(RCR104) Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations: 1

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B North Sea

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-02-03

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

65 / 65 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

791 / 791 (100%)

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Digital Health for All [FA]

Description

Thematic information

Partners (11)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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