The visit highlighted how collaboration between enterprise, healthcare and academia is helping innovative Irish companies bring solutions closer to adoption within the health system and ultimately improve outcomes for patients.

HIHI is an iniative of the Government of Ireland supported by Enterprise Ireland and the HSE, which provides clinical expertise and access to healthcare settings and networks across Ireland. This combination of supports allows HIHI to connect innovators with the people, knowledge and environments that are critical to developing solutions that address real healthcare challenges.

Through our national network, we help companies gain valuable insights into unmet healthcare needs, access clinical expertise, evaluate products and services, and test innovations in real-world healthcare settings. These opportunities play a vital role in helping innovators generate evidence, refine their solutions and better understand the needs of healthcare providers and patients.

Many of the start-ups and SMEs engaging with HIHI are also supported by Enterprise Ireland through its extensive portfolio of enterprise development programmes. By combining enterprise supports with healthcare expertise and clinical access, HIHI enables companies to strengthen their innovations, build credibility and accelerate their route to market.

The visit provided a valuable opportunity to reflect on the impact that can be achieved when healthcare, academia and enterprise work together with a shared purpose. Through this collaborative approach, HIHI continues to support the development and adoption of innovative solutions that address healthcare challenges and deliver meaningful benefits for patients, healthcare professionals and the wider health service.

As a national health innovation hub network, HIHI remains committed to fostering partnerships that bridge the gap between innovators and healthcare services, ensuring that promising technologies and solutions can be effectively developed, evaluated and implemented where they can make the greatest difference.

Pictured: Micol Martinelli and Karina Horgan, Enterprise Ireland and the some of our HIHI team during the visit to Health Innovation Hub Ireland HQ in Cork.