The healthcare innovation landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by an inclusive approach that places patients and caregivers at the heart of the innovation process. The Patient Innovation project, led by a multidisciplinary team from NOVA School of Business and Economics and NOVA Medical School, has been a trailblazer in this shift, empowering patients and caregivers to take on active roles as creators of solutions that directly address their health challenges. Rather than being passive recipients of care, they are now recognized as vital contributors within the global healthcare innovation ecosystem, helping to shape solutions that cater to real-world needs.
Since its inception 10 years ago in 2014, the Patient Innovation project has evolved into a global platform (www.patient-innovation.com), where patients and caregivers from over 80 countries share and develop health innovations, ranging from simple adaptations to complex medical devices. With more than 1,800 solutions, this platform ensures that every shared solution is medically validated, guaranteeing safety and effectiveness. The project amplifies these solutions, bringing them to wider audiences and enabling patients to turn their ideas into tangible tools that can be implemented globally.
Platform users can browse a tailored portfolio of solutions through a user-friendly search menu, with filters for symptoms, conditions, or the intended purpose of each solution. Upon finding a suitable match, users have several options: (i) interact directly on the solution page through designated interaction buttons; (ii) follow ‘do-it-yourself’ instructions (if available) to replicate the solution in their own environment; (iii) explore additional information via reference links, and, if applicable, purchase the product; or (iv) draw inspiration from others’ ideas to develop their own innovations.
Initial dissemination efforts focused on introducing the platform to patient associations worldwide, aiming to encourage the submission of new solutions while offering patients with unmet needs access to valuable resources. Today, dissemination primarily relies on word of mouth within a global community of 300,000 users.
A major driver of the project’s success has been the Patient Innovation Bootcamp: Boosting Patient Entrepreneurship, the world’s first acceleration program for patients and caregivers. Launched in 2020 and funded by EIT Health, this program helps innovators navigate the healthcare sector’s regulatory complexities, develop business models, and scale their solutions. With prestigious European institutions such as NOVA University Lisbon, Copenhagen Business School, and IESE Business School as partners, the bootcamp has supported 54 teams and impacted 132 patients and caregivers across Europe. This program has provided real impact in the participants entrepreneurial journeys. For instance, Summed connected with key partners during the bootcamp, which enabled them to secure their first grants and initiate clinical trials led by Dr. Ana Rita Jesus Maria from Nova Medical School. Similarly, Reality Telling pivoted their product’s business model during the program, leading to new partnerships and hospital clients, where their innovation is now benefiting hundreds of patients.
The impact of Patient Innovation extends far beyond individuals. By creating a bridge between bottom-up innovators and established healthcare companies, the project accelerates the adoption of patient-driven solutions, offering new sources of innovation for the industry. This dynamic fosters partnerships and new business models that propel healthcare forward, benefiting both patients and healthcare professionals. Professionals gain insights from patient-driven innovations, allowing for more personalized, effective treatments and fostering a culture of collaboration.
The Patient Innovation project is transforming healthcare by empowering patients and caregivers to lead innovation, driving solutions that improve lives globally. This patient-driven approach highlights the profound potential of users as key innovators in healthcare, creating a more inclusive, collaborative, and effective system for all.
All lectures and workshops, networking, mentoring, sharing experiences, challenges, and successes… Amazing! A Bootcamp that shows that the most innovative solutions come from patients and caregivers. And there is nothing more commendable than this.
Glooma, Patient Innovation Bootcamp 2021 participant