Biomedicine and biomedical technology provide solutions to clinical challenges such as the use of genetic and health data, drug development, and rehabilitation. It is important to apply biomedicine in clinical medicine and disease prevention, creating business opportunities and increasing export potential.
The key is to achieve the application of biomedicine and biomedical technologies in clinical practice and preventive healthcare.
Key research and development directions in biomedicine and biomedical technologies include:
- Developing personalized medicine solutions
- Ensuring fundamental capabilities and knowledge for creating new products and services, including the development of medical devices
- Using resources and expertise developed in Estonia to advance applied research and innovation
Thanks to a human-centered approach to disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, the field of medicine is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary. A holistic approach to health issues presents new challenges for professionals: collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data (including identifying health risks), addressing multiple risk factors, communicating risk assessments in a way that is understandable to individuals, and collaborating with experts from other fields.
In developing interdisciplinary research and development, it is important to:
- Contribute to the development of new technologies
- Support the emergence of holistic perspectives on health issues
- Improve the use of healthcare resources
The time healthcare network members spend on data entry is significant, but through automation and data reuse, this can be reduced. The goal is to simplify the work of healthcare professionals and optimize processes. Development is needed in areas such as biomedicine and e-health technologies, telemedicine, decision-support solutions, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and robotics. These solutions help improve data collection, sharing, and processing, as well as diagnosis and prevention.
Key research and development directions in data-driven and information technology solutions include:
- Digital and data-driven solutions that give people better insight into and control over their health
- Increasing efficiency, impact, and accessibility, thereby improving the quality of prevention, diagnostics, and treatment
- A human-centered approach that enables personalized health and wellness monitoring and early diagnostics
- Assessing service effectiveness and cost-efficiency, increasing patient safety
- Ensuring trust in the healthcare system by guaranteeing data protection and security
- Fostering collaboration between different stakeholders
It addresses health and prevention across the human life cycle, emphasizing the need for integrated solutions such as connections between health and the social sector, education, and a sustainable environment. Sectoral research and development, along with the solutions being created, help measure health behaviors and service effectiveness, optimize the organization of healthcare professionals’ work, and support individuals’ active participation in their health journey. They also take into account human needs and socio-cultural aspects.
Key research and development directions in developing human-centered and participatory health technologies and services include:
- Contributing to the achievement of strategic healthcare goals and developing more effective, personalized health services
- Increasing individual responsibility in health, taking into account user experience and needs
- Improving the quality of treatment and prevention
- Fostering collaboration across institutions, sectors, and professionals, thereby enhancing innovation potential, business opportunities, and export potential
During crises, healthcare systems face challenges such as limited resources, response speed, and supply security. Preparedness for rapid response requires the development of research and innovation capacity, focusing on training specialists and strengthening the expertise of educators. It is important to conduct studies in crisis prevention and rapid response, including risk mapping and the development of mitigation strategies. Equally crucial is the development of mobile and autonomous devices and systems, such as mobile hospitals, as well as the production of precision instruments. Evidence-based crisis management and communication are essential during emergencies.
Key research and development directions in developing crisis preparedness in the health sector include:
- Improving security and the supply resilience of the healthcare system
- Ensuring the sustainability and functionality of the healthcare system during crises, enabling rapid response
- Creating business opportunities and increasing export potential (as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic)
