Redefining Healthcare: Innovation, Partnerships & AI

The landscape of healthcare innovation is undergoing seismic shifts, driven by advancements in technology and the ever-pressing need to address systemic inefficiencies. This was the central theme of a podcast episode of Innovation Connected, hosted at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Max Plank, Venture Partner at Tenity, engaged two thought leaders—Safia Agini, a health tech leader and advocate for women in technology, and Michael Shelper, an expert in healthcare technology and investment—in a thought-provoking discussion on the future of healthcare innovation.

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AI Revolutionizing drug discovery and surgery

Healthcare's two largest verticals—pharmaceuticals and surgery—each generate over $1 trillion annually across global markets.

Michael Shelper emphasized the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to revolutionize these fields:

• AI can reduce the costs and timelines of drug discovery, as seen with startups like Insilico Medicine.
• In surgery, AI is enabling safer, more efficient procedures with better outcomes.

Challenges with AI:

• High costs and risks in clinical trials limit the scope of innovation.
• Acquiring diverse, high-quality data for AI training remains a significant hurdle.
• Over-regulation stifles progress, often due to a lack of expertise among policymakers.

Proposed solutions:

• Encourage responsible innovation by penalizing misuse rather than over-regulating AI development.
• Promote structured data sharing while ensuring privacy to maximize AI’s potential.

Proactive health management: Prevention and ownership

The shift from reactive to proactive healthcare is gaining momentum, driven by:‍

Early Diagnosis and prevention:

• Focus on non-communicable diseases like diabetes, where early intervention can reduce long-term costs.
• Multimodality solutions combining radiology, genomic testing, and digital pathology for precise diagnostics‍

Continuous Health monitoring:

• Wearable devices and AI-powered analytics empower individuals to manage their health more effectively.

Consumer awareness:

• Safia Agueni highlighted the cultural shift toward health ownership, with individuals increasingly investing in preventive care.
• This trend opens significant opportunities for digital health solutions and wellness technologies.

Collaborative healthcare innovation across regions

Diversity and collaboration:

• Safia shared her work with Women in Tech Switzerland to promote inclusivity in technology.
• Both Safia and Michael emphasized the Middle East’s openness to collaboration, significant investments, and advancements in genomics and healthcare infrastructure.
• Women in the region occupy leadership roles in healthcare and startups, serving as role models and challenging stereotypes.

Global collaboration:

• The Middle East, particularly the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, exemplifies visionary leadership and innovative governance.
• These countries are attracting healthcare startups and fostering ecosystems that bridge global expertise.

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The Future of Healthcare Innovation

Michael Shelper painted a vision of the future where:

• Hospitals specialize in complex cases, while routine diagnostics and procedures are managed at home using AI and remote monitoring technologies.
• Increased reliance on technology for everyday health issues frees up human resources for intricate cases.

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Safia Agini emphasized:

• The importance of prevention and individual accountability in health management.
• A growing willingness among consumers to invest in their health, paralleling other discretionary spending.

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The discussion at Davos underscored both the challenges and opportunities in healthcare innovation. While systemic inefficiencies and regulatory hurdles persist, advancements in AI, data integration, and preventive care offer viable solutions.

Collaboration across industries and regions, championed by organizations like Tenity, is essential to unlocking the full potential of healthcare innovation.

As Michael noted, “A bright future lies ahead of us, but it will be a rocky road to get there.” With a commitment to diversity, collaboration, and technological advancement, the future of healthcare is set to transform lives globally.

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Why Tenity leads the way in Healthcare innovation

Through our accelerator program Tenity Digital Health Accelerator, Tenity fosters innovation in health tech by:

• Supporting startups in AI, digital health, and preventive care.
• Connecting entrepreneurs with corporates, investors, and global ecosystems.
• Driving meaningful collaborations that address systemic inefficiencies in healthcare.

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The Tenity Digital Health Accelerator is brought to you by digital health center bülach (dhc) and Tenity. Our founding partner, the Zürcher Kantonalbank (ZKB), is the largest early-stage investor in Switzerland. You will have the chance to connect with the start-up finance teamfrom ZKB during the program.

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Discover how Tenity empowers growth-stage startups to revolutionize healthcare through technology and innovation.

Learn more about Tenity’s programs

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