Inspire Living Lab: A success story of medical innovation and collaboration

The halls of Mannheim University Hospital are home to a unique facility: the Inspire Living Lab. Not only are patients cared for here, but innovative ideas and technologies are also tested for their suitability in everyday clinical practice. Hannah Schlott, Project Manager INSPIRE Living Lab, provides exciting insights into the development and goals of this groundbreaking innovation platform, her collaboration with 5-HT Chemistry & Health and the start-ups in the Living Lab.

“The Inspire Living Lab is no ordinary research facility. It is a real patient ward that is integrated into regular medical operations and cares for patients from orthopaedics and urology. But in addition to regular care, the Living Lab also offers start-ups and companies the opportunity to test their products and ideas in a real clinical environment,” says Hannah.

A key to overcoming hurdles for startups in the healthcare sector

For many startups, access to clinical environments is a major challenge. But the Inspire Living Lab opens doors here and enables young companies to get feedback from the actual users of their products at an early stage. From the early development phase to scientific studies, the Living Lab offers a wide range of opportunities for collaboration.

Insights into the Inspire Living Lab

“The vision behind the Inspire Living Lab is to bridge the gap between innovation and clinical application. By involving patients, nursing staff and doctors at an early stage, the aim is to develop products that are not only technologically convincing, but also meet the needs and requirements of users,” explains Hannah.

Innovative patient monitoring and prevention technology for improved healthcare - QUMEA in the Living Lab

The startup QUMEA has developed a holistic early warning system for hospitals and care facilities. Their solution, QUMEA Care, uses a discrete sensor and artificial intelligence to inform care staff when needed and coordinate help for patients. The system is based on radar technology and is therefore completely anonymous and compliant with data protection regulations. In over 80 institutions in Switzerland and Europe, a 60% reduction in falls and a 20% saving in care tasks has already been demonstrated. QUMEA discreetly supports care staff, enables effective prevention and helps to reduce costs in healthcare facilities - without the use of wearables or optical sensors. Thanks to the Living Lab, QUMEA now has the opportunity to establish this solution in Germany and carry out further development steps to expand the product.

Innovation platform and network expansion: the future of the Inspire Living Lab

However, the future of the Inspire Living Lab lies not only in the implementation of individual projects, but also in the creation of a comprehensive innovation platform. By networking with start-ups, companies and other research institutions, the Living Lab aims to become a central hub for medical innovations.

Insights into the Inspire Living Lab

The support of networks such as 5-HT Chemistry & Health is of crucial importance here. Targeted networking and the provision of contacts can lead to new partnerships and collaborations that drive the development of the Living Lab. “Events like WE CARE are incredibly valuable for us in terms of making contact with start-ups in the healthcare sector, learning about the latest developments and exploring potential cooperation opportunities. Although we already knew QUMEA before the event, our collaboration has naturally intensified as a result. The entire event was a complete success for us,” says Hannah, summing up her participation in WE CARE 2023.

“The Inspire Living Lab is more than just a research facility. It is a vibrant place of exchange and collaboration, where innovations are created and the future of medical care is shaped. With the support of partners like 5-HT Chemistry & Health, the Living Lab will continue to make a vital contribution to medical innovation,” says Hannah.

We at 5-HT Chemistry & Health are excited to see where the journey takes us. Are you also looking for new impulses and digital innovations for your products? Then contact us at kontakt@5-ht.com and write your own success story together with us.