Supplier challenges in health tech innovation: Evidence from the HealthPort project

Suppliers, in particular small innovative firms, is an important contributor not only for innovation in health-tech, but also a component to consider in the light of the emerging policy interest for using public procurement as a means to stimulate innovation. Research on barriers preventing these firms from providing innovations to public health authorities is therefore easily justified. Although substantive knowledge already prevails on the topic, it appears to be a lack in the literature concerning small innovative firms. To help to overcome this gap the paper discusses preliminary case study findings collected in the context of the Baltic Sea Health Region HealthPort project. The overall aim with the project was to facilitate ‘business acceleration’ by providing support, training and bridging innovative SMEs and health care organisations ultimately to strengthen the Baltic Sea Region health economy.