2021 Nordic Health Virtual Market Entry Programme: Week 1 & 2 Summary
In September 2021, Nordic Innovation House Singapore (NIH-SG) continues to build more opportunities for Nordic technology startups, scale-ups and growth companies operating under the Health theme. Together with our core partners, Innovation Norway, Embassy of Finland, Business Sweden, and Business Iceland – the Nordic Health Virtual Market Entry Programme 2021 will provide 11 selected Nordic companies with opportunities to expand their foothold in Singapore and Southeast Asia. We also partnered with healthcare key players, tech connectors and knowledge partners in Singapore and Southeast Asia to conduct a series of group showcases and knowledge sharing sessions. Enabling the Nordic companies to pitch their healthtech solutions to address problem areas in this region, gain key insights on the healthcare landscape in Singapore and Southeast Asia, and foster co-creation and co-development opportunities with these partners.
In conclusion, we are pleased to connect our 11 selected Nordic Health companies with almost 260 healthcare-related institutions, government agencies, professionals, academics, investors and innovators.
The 11 Nordic companies are AlgoDx, Conexus, HealthFOX, Medified, Motitech, Ninchat, Optomed, Orkestr.io, ProWellness, Polssir, and Verso Vision. For more info about each Nordic Health company, click here: https://bit.ly/nihsg-health-selected-nordic-companies-profile-cards-21
Week 1: 6 SEPTEMBER - 10 september 2021
6 SEP: IHiS - Integrated Health Information Systems
IHiS Team:
Chua Chee Yong – Director, Strategy, HITMAP, Alliance, Planning and Exploration, IHiS
Khor Hwai Lin – Assistant Director, HITMAP, Alliance, Planning and Exploration, IHiS
Serena Cheong – Deputy Director, HITMAP, Alliance, Planning and Exploration, IHiS
Integrated Health Information Systems (IHiS) – https://www.ihis.com.sg/
Singapore's national technology agency for public healthcare, and supported by the Ministry of Health, Singapore. A multi-award-winning healthcare IT leader, IHiS digitises, connects, and analyses Singapore's health ecosystem. Its ultimate aim is to improve the Singapore population's health and health administration by integrating intelligent, highly resilient, and cost-effective technologies with processes and people. Transforming healthcare through smart technology, IHiS has garnered more than 80 awards for its innovations. It supports more than 50,000 healthcare users in Singapore's health ecosystem through the application of clinical informatics, computer science, data science, mechatronics, standards-based IT that enables information exchange and cross-boundary workflows, analysis, statistical and machine learning techniques to discover insights.
HealthTech X - Virtual “LIVE’ Event 12 - 13 October 2021
Programme Agenda & Registration: https://ihishealthtechx-register.eventengage.app
Be part of HealthTech X this October where international and Singapore-based leaders in public and private healthcare discuss and exchange ideas on IT strategies, innovation, challenges and integration. Hear from policymakers, healthcare providers, technologists and innovators at HealthTech X as they engage in conversations and share a wide range of topics, including the latest HealthTech programmes, new models of care, emerging healthcare technologies and new opportunities that will redefine tech for better health. Organised by IHiS where 21 international speakers in healthcare will discuss and exchange ideas on emerging technologies, IT strategies, innovation, challenges and integration.
6 SEP: INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH (IMH)
IMH Team:
A/Prof Daniel Fung, Chief Executive Officer, IMH
Lim Hock Leng, Chief Operating Officer, IMH
Raphael Lim, Director | Corporate Development & Forensic Psychiatry Operations
Swapna Verma, Chairman, Medical Board
Adj Asst Dr Mok Yee Min, Assistant Chairman Medical Board for Clinical (ACMB Clinical)
Institute of Mental Health (IMH) – https://www.imh.com.sg/
Singapore’s first mental hospital offers a multidisciplinary and comprehensive range of psychiatric, rehabilitative and counselling services in both hospital and community-based settings to meet the needs of three groups of people - children and adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Besides providing patient-centred clinical services, IMH trains the current and next generation of clinicians, nurses and allied health professionals in psychiatry and conducts research related to mental health. More details here.
IMH Smart Hospital Strategy 2021-2023
Principles of Strategy: Personalised Care, Efficiency, Innovativeness, Sustainability
Pillar 1: Digital Hospital - Transforming End-to-End Care through Smart Healthcare
• A. Hospital-wide review of clinical and operational processes – a seamless-complete alignment of both clinical and operational processes with Smart Healthcare
• B. Suite of Smart Healthcare will be implemented, aligning to National Healthcare Group’s River of Life framework, supporting end-to-end care - All touchpoints from Access to care to Community. Telehealth is the key initiative implemented at all touchpoints. Digital Psychiatry would be developed.
Pillar 2: Innovative Hospital - Strengthen Capabilities and Create Enablers to Innovate
• A. One of the 7 IMH Aspirations, ‘Nurture a Future Ready Mindset, Leading to A Change in the Way We Work’, embodies the essence of preparing our Smart Healthcare users (patients, caregivers, staff and partners) for what a digital future brings.
Pillar 3: Green Hospital - Creating an Environmentally Friendly Space
• A. Beyond 2021, we will see ourselves expanding efforts on creating an environmentally friendly IMH
7 SEP: National healthcare group (NHG)
National Healthcare Group Team:
Adjunct Associate Professor Tan Cher Heng
• National Healthcare Group (NHG) Senior Consultant, Assistant Chairman Medical Board (Clinical Research and Innovation) Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH)
• Committee Member & Partnership Liaison in NHG Centre for Medical Technologies and Innovations (CMTi)
• Deputy Clinical Director, Centre for Healthcare Innovation (CHI)
Evangeline Ng – Assistant Manager, National Healthcare Group (NHG)
Willian Ng – Assistant Director, Centre for Medical Technologies and Innovations, National Healthcare Group (NHG)
Lua Yan Bin – Assistant Manager, National Healthcare Group (NHG)
Professor Chua Hong Choon
• Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (Strategy & Transformation), National Healthcare Group (NHG)
• Chief Executive Officer, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital & Yishun Health
National Healthcare Group - https://corp.nhg.com.sg/AboutNHG/Pages/NHG-Profile.aspx
A leader in public healthcare in Singapore, recognised at home and abroad for the quality of its medical expertise and facilities. Care is provided through an integrated network of six primary care polyclinics, acute care and tertiary hospitals, national specialty centres and business divisions. Together they bring a rich legacy of medical expertise to our philosophy of integrated patient-centred care. NHG's vision is "Adding Years of Healthy Life". This vision goes beyond merely healing the sick to the more difficult and infinitely more rewarding task of preventing illness and preserving health and quality of life. With some 20,000 staff, NHG aims to provide care that is patient-centric, accessible, seamless, comprehensive, appropriate and cost-effective.
As the Regional Health System (RHS) for Central Singapore, it is vital for NHG to partner and collaborate with stakeholders, community advisors, and voluntary welfare organisations. Together with our patients, their families and caregivers, we aim to deliver integrated healthcare services and programmes that help in Adding Years of Healthy Life to all concerned.
7 SEP: idsMED GROUP
idsMED Team:
Vasanthi Supurmaniyam, Managing Director - Singapore, idsMED
Law Kiawei, Manager - Medical Products, idsMED Singapore
idsMED Group – https://www.idsmed.com/
One of the largest integrated solutions providers of medical equipment, supplies and services in Asia. idsMED Group has an extensive distribution network covering various healthcare institutions including government and private hospitals, day surgery centres, specialist and primary care clinics, laboratories and nursing homes. In line with its expansion program in the region, idsMED Group now successfully operates in 9 markets: Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Thailand, China, Taiwan and Vietnam.
9 SEP: SingHEALTH / singapore general hospital (SGH)
Singapore General Hospital Team:
Chery Quek, Manager, Future Health System, Singapore General Hospital
SingHealth – https://www.singhealth.com.sg/
SingHealth is Singapore’s largest healthcare group. Our institutions offer a comprehensive range of specialities and services that set the standard of excellence in patient-centred clinical care. Providing medical expertise across 40 clinical specialities, we offer our patients access to specialised care through our sub-speciality centres as well as the SingHealth Duke-NUS Disease Centres which brings together specialists across disciplines from across SingHealth institutions to offer integrated and multidisciplinary care. More details here.
3 main General Hospitals under SingHealth:
Singapore General Hospital, Changi General Hospital, Sengkang General Hospital
Singapore General Hospital (SGH) Campus Master Plan
The SGH Campus Master Plan anticipates the healthcare needs of Singaporeans and will provide an environment that supports the latest models of care that are holistic, multidisciplinary and team-based with integration across the whole spectrum of care. The SGH Campus of the future will be Singapore’s largest medical campus when completed. It will provide patients with healthcare that is easily accessible, integrated and seamlessly connected to cutting-edge research and education, translating to better health outcomes for patients. Designed to deliver a seamless continuum of care, the resulting vibrant healthcare ecosystem will also drive a world-class Academic Medical Centre that will define healthcare for Singapore. More information here.
9 SEP: ADB VENTURES
ADB Ventures Team:
Jason Lusk, Partnership & Communications Manager
Zhang Yichu, Operations Associate
ADB Ventures – https://ventures.adb.org/
ADB Ventures is the venture arm of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) focused on investing in early-stage technology companies solving big development problems in emerging Asia and the Pacific. ADB Ventures’ inaugural $60 million equity fund invests up to $4 million initially in highly scalable, technology-enabled solutions that contribute a positive impact on climate change and gender equality. It aspired to crowd in more than $1 billion of risk capital to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. ADB Ventures is investing in early-stage companies in four main verticals: Cleantech & Clean Energy, Sustainable Agriculture, Inclusive Fintech, Inclusive Healthcare.
ADB Ventures Labs – https://ventures.adb.org/labs/ is a platform that helps entrepreneurs connect to customers and commercial opportunities in Asia by following a three-step process.
ASSESS: Work with leading partners like Nordic Innovation House to identify a pool of high-quality technology solutions, high quality technology entrepreneurs
SOURCE: Work with leading corporates to understand their unmet innovation gates and then map the entrepreneurs that were identified to those innovation needs
MATCH: Connect the two parties together to establish pilot projects that could develop commercial relationships and a better understanding of how the companies can scale in the regions
9 SEP: MOH HOLdings
MOH Holdings Team:
Eddie Gan, Senior Specialist, Healthcare Infrastructure Projects Division (HIPD), MOHH
Yvonne Lim, Deputy Director, Healthcare Infrastructure Projects Division (HIPD), MOHH
Foo Jia, Division Senior Manager, Healthcare Infrastructure Projects Division (HIPD), MOHH
MOH Holdings (MOHH) – https://www.mohh.com.sg/
MOHH is the holding company of Singapore’s public healthcare clusters – National University Health System, National Healthcare Group and Singapore Health Services. Sharing the Ministry of Health’s vision to champion a healthy nation and ensure that our people live well, live long and with peace of mind, our role is to enhance public healthcare sector performance by unlocking synergies and economies of scale.
MOHH strategies aim to drive optimal performance through sector-level initiatives and addressing system-level gaps. These include:
Developing and building regional and community hospitals, specialist centres, polyclinics and nursing homes to prepare for future demand on public healthcare
Providing a system for joint recruitment of healthcare professionals for Singapore’s public healthcare institutions
Developing a national IT framework that facilitates seamless delivery of care to our patients
Operationalising a talent management and HR framework for the entire public healthcare spectrum
Optimising selected finance-related functions within the MOHH Group
Providing corporate advisory and support to MOHH’s subsidiaries, and creating a corporate development system to support future organisational developments in the MOHH Group
Providing strategic and operational Board secretarial support for MOHH’s group of entities
9 Sep: AGEING ASIA
Ageing Asia Team: Janice Chia, Founder & Managing Director, Ageing Asia
Ageing Asia – https://ageingasia.com/
Ageing Asia is Asia Pacific’s first industry alliance on the business of ageing. We are an independent network that seeks to unite business, government, community leaders and the media, to drive change for APAC’s ageing landscape. Our vision is to lead advocacy and educational role in improving quality and standards of eldercare, nurture partnerships and curate the development of solutions that address the new opportunities and market demands of the ageing baby boomer population.
Asia Pacific’s BIGGEST Care Show – World Ageing Festival 2021 returns from 1-20 October
Website: https://ageingasia.com/waf/
Into its 12th year, the annual Ageing Asia Innovation Forum (AAIF) has expanded under the umbrella of Ageing Asia 2021: World Ageing Festival (The Hybrid Edition). The theme in 2021 aims to understand how the global social and economic landscape will evolve in a post COVID-19 new normal. Transforming the future of ageing: what happens next? will deep dive into the key sectors that will impact change in the Asia Pacific.
10 SEP: Experiences and Q&A with nordic trade promotion offices and nordic embassies in Singapore (+ Service offerings and support available)
Representatives of the Embassy of Finland in Singapore, Business Sweden, and Innovation Norway sharing information about their respective service offerings and support available for Nordic companies who are ready to scale up in Singapore and beyond.
Embassy of Finland in Singapore: Riku Mäkelä, Counsellor, Trade and Innovation Affairs
Business Sweden: Ida Stjernström, Management Consultant
Innovation Norway: Susanna Quek, Market Advisor / Ling Nee Ker, Special Advisor
Week 2: 13 september - 17 september 2021
13 SEP: National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS)
NCIS Team:
Professor Chng Wee Joo, Director, NCIS
Dr Chee Cheng Ean, Deputy Director, NCIS
Lee Meng Tuck, Head, Ops & Admin, NCIS
National University Cancer Institute (NCIS), Singapore - https://www.ncis.com.sg/Pages/Home.aspx
NCIS is a national specialist centre under the National University Health System (NUHS). It is the only public cancer centre in Singapore treating both paediatric and adult cancers in one facility. At the NCIS, Every Person Matters and our goal is to provide comprehensive yet personalised care for each and every patient incorporating cancer awareness, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. We do so by focusing on four core areas:
• Providing quality patient care
• Advancing research discoveries from the laboratory into treatments
• Training healthcare professionals and scientists
• Educating the public
NCIS provide a broad spectrum of cancer care and management from screening and early diagnosis to treatment and long-term care. It brings together professionals with various specialities including doctors, surgeons, nurses, medical imaging professionals, pharmacists, and rehabilitative therapists.
14 SEP: Knowledge Sharing Session: South-East Asia IPR SME Helpdesk
Southeast Asia IPR SME Helpdesk – https://www.southeastasia-iprhelpdesk.eu/
The South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk supports European Union small and medium sized enterprises protect and enforce their Intellectual Property rights in or relating to South-East Asian countries, through the provision of free information and services.
15 sep: KNOWLEDGE SHARING SESSION – nordic smes experiences in Singapore & southeast Asia
In this session, our Nordic SMEs speakers shared insights on their business journey into Asia, examples of challenges and opportunities. They also provided many useful pointers to our selected Nordic Health companies when considering Singapore or Southeast Asia as their next go-to-market.
Moderator: Riku Mäkelä, Counsellor, Trade and Innovation Affairs
Finland: Lena Karjaluoto, Executive VP, HUR
Sweden: Sim Wen Jing, Business Development Manager APAC. Olink Proteomics
Denmark: Sharad Govil, Managing Director. GN Hearing (ReSound)
Norway: Park Tae Hoon, Country Manager, Laerdal Medical / Kenneth Ng, Sales & Services Manager, ASEAN, Laerdal Medical
17 SEP: CLOSING EVENT – Healthcare beyond hospital to community
As part of the NIH-SG Nordic Health Entry Programme 2021 towards Singapore and Southeast Asia, we also hosted a virtual closing event themed ’Healthcare Beyond Hospital to Community’. Organised by Nordic Innovation House Singapore, and Nordic partners at the Embassy of Finland in Singapore, Business Sweden, Innovation Norway, Business Iceland and the Embassy of Denmark in Singapore. Supported by Finnish Business Council Singapore, Norwegian Business Association Singapore, Swedish Chamber of Commerce Singapore, and Danish Business Association of Singapore.
With increased life expectancy and ageism in the future, this brings significant challenges for healthcare providers and demands to transform healthcare delivery across providers, moving care beyond the hospital, to the community. Populations in smart cities like Singapore and the Nordic region are facing similar healthcare challenges in ageing and chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, mental health and cardiovascular diseases. They are constantly developing innovative healthtech solutions (management, prevention, intervention and rehabilitation) to address these challenges and to provide more efficient, affordable and better quality care to match the needs of the fast-expanding silver economy. Hence, enhancing integrated care systems focused on the primary care and community is key for future health and health care transformation.
In this webinar, we will learn more about healthcare beyond hospitals to the communities, key challenges, market opportunities and future-ready healthcare innovations applicable in Singapore and in the Nordic countries. In addition, meet the selected Nordic Health companies in this programme and the Nordic Chambers in Singapore.
Agenda
16:00 - 16:05pm:
Welcome by Jacqueline Chen, Community Manager, Nordic Innovation House Singapore
16:05 - 16:10:
Opening Remarks by Mr Eivind Sigvart Homme, Ambassador-Designate, Royal Norwegian Embassy, Singapore
16:10 - 17:00pm: Fireside Chat: Healthcare Beyond Hospital to Community
Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer (Integrated Care), National Healthcare Group (NHG)
Chief Executive Officer, Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH) &Central Health
Ambassador for Health and Wellbeing, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland
Dr Petter Risøe
Co-founder and COO, Diffia, Norway
Moderator: Riku Mäkelä
Counsellor, Innovation and Trade Affairs, Embassy of Finland, Singapore
17:00 - 17:20pm: Nordic Showcase by Selected Nordic Health Companies
(Profile Cards: https://bit.ly/nihsg-health-selected-nordic-companies-profile-cards-21)
17:20 - 17:30pm: Presentations by Nordic business chambers in Singapore
Pasi Haatainen, Chairman, Finnish Business Council Singapore
Anders Hegre, Executive Director, Norwegian Business Association Singapore
Lisa Ferraton, General Manager, Swedish Chamber of Commerce Singapore