An unexpected start to a successful Healthtech Festival

Peter Julius, a Danish tech profile and CEO of Public Intelligence, had travelled to Oslo to share insights from Danish municipalities’ testing of social robotics. On his way to Forskningsparken early Thursday morning, he heard several loud thumps before suddenly seeing a moose fall from above. A somewhat shaken Julius remarked that “this could only happen in Norway,” and when he took the stage just a few hours later to open his presentation on robotics in healthcare, the flying moose naturally became a perfect icebreaker before giving the audience insight into the gains that can be achieved through social robotics.

Investors met relevant companies and shared experiences

The day before the festival opening, Norway Health Tech once again brought together investors and companies for its annual Investor Meetup – now for the third year in a row. The aim is to address a persistent challenge in Norway: while there is a strong research base and a robust pipeline of investable ideas in healthcare, too much promising technology fails to reach the market. The shortage of risk capital remains one of the key bottlenecks in the Norwegian health industry.

At Health2B, the focus on Tuesday was on taking concrete steps to close this gap. A total of 35 investors met with 30 companies across more than 60 bilateral meetings, curated based on the investors’ own preferences. In addition to the meetings, investors attended a dedicated session on the healthcare sector and its investment dynamics, before the day concluded with a wine tasting and networking.

Among the contributors was DLA Piper Norway, which shared legal and strategic insights. Karin Leire from Segulah Medical offered perspectives on medtech investments, while Gisle Østereng from StartupLab reflected on a meeting earlier that week with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, where 15 representatives from the start-up and venture capital community discussed challenges and provided input.

– Trust is built over time, says Sergio Ferreira, Head of Funding at Norway Health Tech. – That is the whole point of the Investor Meetup: we give people time to get to know each other while also increasing knowledge about investments in healthcare.

After the knowledge session, the investors were invited on a journey through Portuguese wine hosted by Sergio Ferreira.

The entire ecosystem gathered for a health technology festival

The following day, the doors opened to the Healthtech Festival at Forskningsparken. A total of 550 participants from across the ecosystem attended – including technology providers, municipalities, hospitals, patient organisations, researchers, academia, investors, service providers and a strong contingent of technology optimists and curious minds. With 50 exhibitors and a fully packed venue, all the conditions were in place for a highly relevant meeting arena.

– A new record for both attendees and exhibitors, says Therese Oppegaard, who led this year’s festival. – But what is most exciting is that we are truly bringing together industry and healthcare under one roof. This year, we saw a roughly 50/50 split.

The opening session set the tone for the day. Minister of Digitalisation and Public Governance Karianne Tung, Director of Health Cathrine M. Lofthus, and Saliba Andreas Korkunc, City Councillor for Health in Oslo, highlighted ongoing efforts within government and public administration to accelerate the implementation of innovation and technology in healthcare.

The opening session on the staircase set the agenda for this year’s festival. 📸 Marius Captare

The programme continued across the day’s three main themes. First, healthcare efficiency, where a still somewhat shaken Peter Julius from Public Intelligence, Anita Espedal from Stavanger University Hospital and Kari Jyssum from Trondheim municipality presented examples of how robotics has been tested and implemented at different levels of the healthcare system.

At the new Stavanger University Hospital, they have experienced how critical it is for users to understand why and how the technology should be used, and that transitions between levels and proper prerequisites must be in place to succeed. In Trondheim, they have found that introducing service robots in nursing homes can free up 2 hours and 51 minutes per day. This corresponds to 2.4 full-time equivalents of time freed up at the nursing home level.

The social robot Hana-chan charmed the audience during the Healthtech Festival. 📸 Marius Captare

In the session on innovation and new ways of working, Johan Anstensrud from Longship shared insights into what it takes to successfully scale innovative health technology in Norway today, and why neighbouring Sweden appears to be leading the way in both pace and development through more agile procurement processes and easier market access.

Essity shared experiences from a project with Majorstuhjemmet in the area of continence care, where, in addition to more efficient operations and improved quality of care, they have over time identified hidden benefits such as reduced laundry costs and potentially lower staff absenteeism.

Inventas concluded the session by explaining how they work with innovators to ensure that new technology is developed in compliance with regulatory requirements and frameworks.

Karoline Mokleiv, leder av Norway Health Tech Lab, delte innsikt og gevinster fra prosjektet med Majorstuhjemmet. 📸 Marius Captare

An important theme in uncertain times

The festival’s final session focused on health technology for preparedness, defence and dual use – a topic that has become increasingly relevant in a more uncertain world. The session provided a fitting conclusion to a preliminary project on the same theme that the cluster has been working on this spring. Cecilie Daae (NKVTS), Michael Eimstad (EpiGuard) and Espen Nakstad (Oslo University Hospital – CBRNE Centre) shared their perspectives on how civil preparedness, defence and the healthcare sector must increasingly think together, rather than separately. Daae pointed out that many of the findings presented by the Total Preparedness Commission in its 2023 report remain highly relevant, including the need for stronger cross-sector collaboration and better integration of industry.

While the main stage addressed the big-picture topics, exhibitors and industry participants were offered a dedicated side programme on the staircase. Topics included how to deliver the perfect pitch, build networks, prepare for fundraising, and succeed in sales and procurement in a sector that is often difficult to sell to.

When asking participants themselves, it is not necessarily individual presentations that stand out the most.

– What did I enjoy the most? The people, the atmosphere, the weather, and the mix of meeting places and arenas, one participant told us afterwards.

There was a strong buzz in the main corridor at Forskningsparken, where 50 exhibitors showcased their solutions and services. 📸 Marius Captare

A festive atmosphere – and the festival on the road

As the festival came to a close, another began – on the rooftop terrace at Forskningsparken for the cluster’s annual summer party. As tradition dictates, K8 Industridesign took the role as host and main sponsor. The summer party has become an important meeting point for the cluster. With great food from the grill, sunshine and a glass in hand, the setting allows informal conversations to continue where the more formal panel discussions leave off.

Norway Health Tech is passionate about connecting people and creating arenas where cluster members can get to know each other better across the entire ecosystem.

The Norway Health Tech summer party has become an informal gathering point for the cluster’s members. 📸Marius Captare

Norway Health Tech extended a sincere thank you to all speakers, partners, exhibitors, investors and members who contributed to making this year’s Healthtech Festival a great success.

And for anyone still in doubt: yes, a moose did in fact fall from the sky at Majorstuen on Thursday morning. Not quite from the sky, but from a pedestrian bridge next to the station. Julius himself is more than happy to return to the Healthtech Festival next year, although he would much prefer to encounter the moose on a plate rather than in the middle of Oslo city centre.

We are now gearing up to host the Healthtech Festival in Stavanger for the first time. Would you like to join us? Read more here and contact Therese for more information!