#ASGH
13 Austrian businesses and organizations participated in a virtual business delegation to the 2nd Asian Summit on Global Health (ASGH) in Hong Kong. The Austrian attendees were interested in the latest Asian health trends and are also looking for partners in Hong Kong/China and Asia. For a list of Austrian participants and their profiles 80+ Leaders & Experts in Health examined at the ASGH on Nov. 10 and 11, 2022 important topics including global collaboration in health and trends on health innovation and investment. The Summit consisted of a physical conference in Hong Kong which was also live-streamed and an online portal which also enable the participants to present projects and to hold 1:1 meetings.
#HealthMetropolisVienna
The City of Vienna and other participants from Austria also used the ASGH to position the Austrian capital as “Health Metropolis Vienna”. Dr. Alexander Biach, Vienna’s Business Location Advocate and Deputy Managing Director of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, is working with the government of the City of Vienna and institutional and private partners to pave the way. Through a network of partners in industry, research and medicine, the aim is to foster the innovation potential of cutting-edge research in health technologies for health care usages, diagnosis, and prevention and to support rapid market entry. Already in the framework of the 2021 ASGH Summit, Dr. Alexander Biach and Mr. Silas Chu from the Hong Kong Trade Development Council/Frankfurt Office had signed a “Memorandum of Understanding” for strengthening the relations between the two business organizations to promote trade and investment in the healthcare sector.
Austria has an excellent scientific tradition in medical research and has made a name for itself around the world in many areas of medical technologies, ranging from diagnostic equipment and dental instruments to the construction and operation of large hospitals. Some of the key facts that speak for the location Vienna in the health care sector:
- Highly skilled workers.
There are approx. 13,000 practicing physicians and 1,500 dentists in Vienna. Vienna has around 14,000 students enrolled in the medical universities as well as another 3,000 students enrolled in medical schools.
- Close cooperation between Academia and Hospitals:
Academia at public med universities in Austria work closely with clinics and hospitals. A good example is the Austria’s largest hospital Vienna General Hospital (AKH) which is linked with the MedUni Vienna. The MedUni’s Center for Precision Medicine (CPM) will provide space and state-of-the-art infrastructure for 400 researchers and industry professionals. A particular challenge for the near future is to meet the rapidly growing demand for skilled nursing and care professionals. In this regard an important contribution is made by the interdisciplinary efforts of the FH Campus Wien, which uses innovative methods to train specialists for practical applications. One example is the OP Innovation Center (OPIC) in which students learn how to use the latest surgery technology.
- Platforms to Connect Partners:
Platforms such as the Health Hub Vienna or LISAvienna are helping start-ups and established companies in the health and life science sector to network with the right partners and to further develop and transform the health system through innovations. Vienna itself is home to 554 life sciences companies and organizations, including up-and-coming start-ups, successful large companies, and world-leading research institutions.
- Vienna Bio Center Life Science Center:
With its extraordinary combination of research, business, and education and over 2,000 employees from 79 different countries, the Vienna BioCenter is one of the leading life sciences centers in Europe. Scientists, students, and entrepreneurs come together to create a highly dynamic environment with internationally competitive standards. The research institutes and biotech companies are among the world's leading companies in their field and offer many research highlights.
- European Networks:
EIT Health Austria is one of the eight EIT Health Regional Innovation Hubs which aim to fast-track healthcare innovation in Europe. Through a network of partners in industry, research and medicine all over Europe, the aim is to foster the innovation potential of cutting-edge research in health technologies for health care usages, diagnosis and prevention and to support rapid market entry.
- Austrian Medical Technologies:
Austria is not only an attractive market for medical technology devices, but also an important location for med tech development and production. The sector can make us of a long tradition of engineering skills and precision mechanics. In addition to a large number of long-established companies, the sector also sees young, innovative companies profiting from the dense network of excellent academic institutions and the presence of global leading companies for their own new ventures. For an overview of some of Austrian suppliers, see our FRESH VIEW Medical Technologies publication.
