On April 24, Silicon Luxembourg hosted two panel discussions on Luxembourg’s State of Healthtech. Key players shared their insights on the state of funding and building a more interconnected ecosystem.
The discussion showcased a diverse lineup of panellists, each offering a unique perspective on the healthcare landscape.
Funding outlook
The first discussion focused on healthtech funding efforts in Luxembourg, featuring insights from Dr. Cédric Spaas, founder and general manager of Arspectra, and Dr. Jean-Philippe Arié, cluster manager at Luxinnovation.
“In Luxembourg we have tools and assets that can be used in order to fund innovation.”
Dr. Jean-Philippe Arié, cluster manager at Luxinnovation.
Dr. Spaas underscored the importance of strategic investment in healthcare innovation, highlighting the pivotal role of the resources available in Luxembourg. “The path would have been much harder, especially since the European Innovation Council (EIC), has allowed us to bridge something that was really difficult, in terms of credibility to investors, and to get the early clinical validation we needed, allowing us to go to investors with a stronger file,” said Dr. Spaas.
Moreover, in the first segment, Dr. Arié discussed the challenges and opportunities associated with securing funding for healthcare projects, emphasizing the significance of aligning funding strategies with the broader goals of improving patient outcomes and advancing healthcare delivery. ”Innovation is great, but we have to be funded. It is important to know what the available tools are, and in Luxembourg we have assets and tools that are efficient and can be used to fuel ideas,” said Dr. Arié.
Ecosystem connections
The second roundtable discussion centered on the theme of connecting healthcare, research, and tech players, emphasizing the importance of fostering collaboration and synergy within the healthtech ecosystem to drive innovation and improve patient outcomes, and featured Nicolas Henckes, CEO of Hospilux, Dr. Silvia Colucci from LCSB and Bioincubator manager, and Walid Jaballi, senior enterprise application consultant at NTT DATA.
“In the long run we are on the lookout for innovation and collaboration, in order not to miss new beneficial trends. We need to find other ways of networking and collaborating, which is why I welcome initiatives like FEDIL to launch a new initiative for health companies and life scientists, because there is a need for that. We are now 13 members and growing.”
Nicolas Henckes, CEO of Hospilux.
He emphasized the role of organizations like FEDIL in advocating for initiatives that promote innovation and facilitate connections between different stakeholders, contributing to the sector’s growth and development.
Dr. Colucci from LCSB highlighted the significance of the Bioincubator initiative in Luxembourg’s commitment to nurturing the healthtech entrepreneurial ecosystem. Despite challenges, LCSB successfully established the incubator, showcasing the importance of public-private partnerships in driving healthtech innovation. “There are quite a lot of incubators already in Luxembourg, but there is a uniqueness to the bioincubator, in that we also offer lab space, tailored service, advice and support for healthtech companies. We had a vision for the ecosystem, in that we had to work together. We welcome companies that need a lab but also welcome companies that are in the digital health space, and if you are not a good fit, we will do our best to match make, as we are a consortium,” said Dr. Colucci.
Walid Jaballi of NTT DATA discussed the company’s strategies to promote collaboration and synergy among healthcare providers, research institutions, and technology companies. “Through prioritizing key stakeholders, facilitating meaningful connections, and leveraging AI-driven solutions, NTT DATA aims to address healthcare challenges and drive innovation within the healthtech ecosystem. Through prioritizing key stakeholders and leveraging AI-driven solutions, NTT DATA aims to address healthcare challenges and drive innovation within the healthtech ecosystem,” said Jaballi.
The discussions underscored the transformative potential of connectivity and collaboration in advancing healthcare technology. By fostering partnerships and adhering to data protection regulations, stakeholders can work together to drive meaningful innovation and improve patient care.
