Ambitions for MedTech Innovation House

How do we create a place that not only brings stakeholders together, but also generates solutions that make a real difference in the healthcare system? That question was central to the discussions on MedTech Innovation House at WHINN 2025.

 

10 November 2025

A broad group of researchers, clinicians, and stakeholders from municipalities and companies discussed the opportunities in a new health technology innovation hub during MedTech Odense’s session on a MedTech Innovation House. There was strong interest – including from representatives from other parts of the country.

- The broad range of participants and the strong interest align well with our ambition: to create a national centre that is open to everyone, said Peter Børker, Managing Director of CAI-X, from MedTech Odense and OUH.

- We are very pleased to see the strong willingness to collaborate in the room today. It shows that we agree on the direction, and it bodes well for our mission of solving challenges together.

A house filled with ideas and solutions

The need for a place like MedTech Innovation House was confirmed by the many valuable inputs from participants regarding frameworks, facilities, and community.

A welfare consultant from a municipality, for example, expressed a desire for a clearer overview of available opportunities:

- I would like to meet companies with solutions that can help us in the municipalities tackle the challenges we face, she said.

There were also suggestions to establish testing facilities within the innovation house. An employee from Hospital Lillebælt proposed using available space to test how, for instance, a laboratory could be optimally designed before final construction.

An attractive and vibrant shared environment

Peter Børker, together with the rest of MedTech Odense’s leadership, appreciates the many ideas.

- The discussions during our session confirm that there is a strong desire to build a shared space where ideas can meet, grow, and become solutions that make a real difference in practice, said the coordinator from OUH, who represents the Region of Southern Denmark in MedTech Odense.

- We will take all inputs into the continued development of MedTech Innovation House to ensure it becomes a vibrant and attractive environment that creates value for municipalities, hospitals, companies, researchers, and students alike.

 

 

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Main takeaways from the sessions

This summary compiles the key takeaways from the workshop “MedTech Innovation House in Odense – how do we create an attractive place that supports and generates sustainable and scalable innovation solutions?”, held during WHINN 2025. The workshop brought together representatives from research, clinical practice, municipalities, companies, and other stakeholders to provide input on the frameworks, facilities, and community for the future MedTech Innovation House. Below are five key takeaways within each of the three main themes.

Theme 1. The framework that makes it possible

    1. Create a space built on trust with low barriers to entry – where clinicians, researchers, companies, and patients meet as equal partners.
    2. Design flexibility and modularity into the building – from co-working spaces to laboratories and “hot desks,” both physically and virtually.
    3. Integrate digital solutions – for example, smart building features such as digital twins, access control, and online collaboration spaces.
    4. Make the house open to national and international partners – collaborate with funding programmes, test centres, and global innovation ecosystems.
    5. Develop a vibrant culture of innovation – with open doors, extended hours, and an atmosphere that fosters collaboration and experimentation.

Theme 2. From need to testing – the right facilities

    1. Establish sandboxes for AI, robotics, and data – enabling companies to test safely using synthetic data and standardised environments.
    2. Build core facilities and prototyping workshops – with technicians, equipment, and the ability for rapid iteration and device development.
    3. Ensure realistic testing – clinical, real-world environments with equipment, observation capabilities, and opportunities for large-scale trials.
    4. Provide easy access for healthcare professionals and users – user involvement in the testing phase ensures relevance and implementability.
    5. Integrate regulatory and legal guidance – so projects receive support on MDR, CE marking, and compliance directly during testing.

Theme 3. A vibrant community

    1. Build an active cross-sector community – researchers, clinicians, startups, municipalities, legal experts, investors, and patients should meet and learn from each other.
    2. Create social and professional meeting spaces – cafés, events, professional workshops, and “Dragon’s Den”-style formats that stimulate networking and idea development.
    3. Involve patient and citizen organisations – as co-creators, not just users, of healthcare innovation.
    4. Offer mentorship programmes and access to expertise – legal, IT, funding, business development, and regulatory guidance gathered in one place.
    5. Appoint “honest brokers” – independent professionals who help connect the right partners and ensure trust in collaboration.

The above inputs will feed into the ongoing development of the MedTech Innovation House – a national hub where research, clinical practice, and industry can co-create and test the healthcare technologies of the future.