Hot Topics
In the interdisciplinary exchange with experts from science, development, and healthcare, we address the major challenges and find solutions for the future of medicine and healthcare. In view of the demographic changes facing our society and the digital transformation of our healthcare systems, the following topics are currently at the top of our agenda.
The Berlin-Brandenburg region has a high-performance treatment landscape. At the same time, there are differences in the region’s demographic developments and in the access to medical care. For example, new demands in the rural area are mainly related to the decline in population, the increase in elderly, multimorbid individuals, and the tendency toward undersupply of GPs and specialists. On the other hand, the metropolitan region is confronted with increasing morbidity, but also an overall increasing population, an oversupply in the areas of home and specialist care, as well as an uneven distribution of medical practices.
Heterogeneity is an essential characteristic of the health region Berlin-Brandenburg.
The heterogeneity described above poses a challenge as well as a special opportunity for all stakeholders involved in the provision of medical care: These include the sustainable provisioning of care in the rural areas, taking into account a growing shortage of skilled workers, as well as the provisioning of adequate care for the growing number of elderly and very old people, as well as the needs-based distribution of care within metropolitan areas.
New innovative concepts of healthcare
Against this background, new innovative healthcare concepts, such as cross-sectoral and integrated care models, are becoming increasingly important. This involves pooling forces, for example in medical care centers or in primary care model projects. More intensive cooperation between outpatient and inpatient facilities as well as new technologies such as telemedicine are increasingly coming to the fore.
Ambassadors for “Innovative Treatment”
In order to position the importance and developments in our hot topics, we are cooperating with renowned personalities from the region’s science and industry landscape.
On the topic of “Innovative treatment in the health region,” they are:
Dr. Andrea Grebe, Vivantes Netzwerk für Gesundheit GmbH, Chairman of the Executive Board
Dr. Jens Schick. Sana Kliniken AG, Member of the Executive Board
Frank Michalak, AOK Nordost – The Gesundheitskasse, Chairman
In order to bring innovative products and processes into use, innovative structures and programs are needed that enable and accelerate technology transfer along the entire value chain. Whether it’s translational and interdisciplinary transfer of knowledge between researchers, close networking between science and industry, or the exchange between ideas providers on the one hand and investors on the other – there are “transfer platforms” in the German capital region at various levels. In addition to the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), as a unique scientific institution for translation and system medicine in Germany, this includes among others:
- the Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies BCRT
- the Experimental and Clinical Research Center ECRC
- the Berlin Excellence Cluster NeuroCure
- the Brandenburg Health Campus
- as well as the technology transfer centers in Berlin and Brandenburg
Interdisciplinary and closely networked
The use of scientific databases, bioprobes, and large-scale equipment as well as access to scientific expertise, patents, and graduates is of crucial importance for the development of innovative products. The Berlin and Brandenburg universities and research institutions as well as their technology transfer centers are well positioned for this.
In addition, the numerous technology parks in Berlin and Brandenburg offer excellent opportunities and infrastructural requirements for close cooperation between science and industry.
Ambassadors for “Transfer und Translation”
In order to position the importance and developments in our hot topics, we are cooperating with renowned personalities from the region’s science and industry landscape.
On the topic of “Transfer and Translation,” they are:
Prof. Dr. Andreas Lendlein, Director of the Institute for Biomaterial Research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht Zentrum für Material und Küstenforschung GmbH
Prof. Dr. Erwin Böttinger, Founding director of the HPI Digital Health Center / Professor and Chair for Digital Health and Personalized Medicine at the Digital-Engineering Department of the Hasso Plattner Institut (HPI) / Universität Potsdam
Every day, large volumes of health data are collected: Patient identification data, insurance data, clinical data, billing data, disease-specific data, and personal data are becoming increasingly important to all stakeholders in the healthcare industry. Whether it’s with fitness wearables or health apps - more and more people are tracking their vital signs and health data.
However, a large amount of the data collected is only available to a limited extent for the development of new therapies, health services research, and for improved workflows. The more routine data from care and self-tracking would be available, the better and more personalized the treatment of patients can be. Future forms of diagnosis and treatment could also be better developed if different data are linked together and systematically evaluated.
Interdisciplinary Networking
Big Data is a top issue in the HealthCapital cluster. Because we are convinced that Big Data – the acquisition, storage, analysis, and visualization of large volumes of data – will increasingly play a dominant role in medicine and in the healthcare industries.
Major stakeholders from science, industry, healthcare, and cost bearers are working together in the German capital region, so that it will be possible to combine clinical data, care data, and research data in the future. This would make an important contribution to provide better care for every single citizen.
The region’s renowned institutions in the field of "Big Data" include:
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH)
- Einstein Center Digital Future
- The Fraunhofer Berlin Center for Digital Transformation
- Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering
Big Data Ambassadors
In order to position the importance and developments in our hot topics, we are cooperating with renowned personalities from the region’s science and industry landscape.
On the topic of “Big Data for Clinical Studies and Healthcare Research,” they are:
Peter Albiez, Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Chairman of the Board
Prof. Dr. Christoph Meinel, Scientific Director and CEO, Hasso Plattner Institute for Digital Engineering
With the hot topic of “Health 4.0,” we intensively promote digitization in healthcare in our cluster work. This includes the seamless networking of all stakeholders across sectoral boundaries and the associated development of new forms of care that reach patients and citizens everywhere, involving them as equal partners and putting the focus on them.
The drivers here are above all new innovators from the startup environment, who stimulate the market with their ideas and their digital expertise. New technology trends such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data, and virtual reality are taken up to develop innovative products and services for medicine and healthcare.
The cluster set itself the task of networking these progressive approaches with all the stakeholders in healthcare (outpatient/inpatient care providers and cost carriers). As a result, efficiency gains can be achieved and future-oriented healthcare can be established in the region, especially against the backdrop of demographic change and the accompanying increase in healthcare costs.
The German capital region with the metropolis Berlin and the rural areas of Brandenburg on the one hand and the technological expertise on the other hand are predestined to develop innovative digital solutions, to test them in the region, to market them nationally and internationally, and thus to strengthen the health economy and make it ready for the future.
Big Data Ambassadors for “Health 4.0”
In order to position the importance and developments in our hot topics, we are cooperating with renowned personalities from the region’s science and industry landscape.
On the topic of “Health 4.0” those are:
Prof. Dr. Axel Ekkernklamp, BG Klinikum Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin gGmbH, Medical Director and CEO
Inga Bergen, magnosco, CEO
