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Health Cluster Portugal (HCP)
Published on 04 September 2018
Portugal
Norte
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The Health Cluster Portugal (HCP) is a private non-profit association, founded in 2008, that currently brings together over 170 members, including R&D institutions, universities, hospitals, organizations from civil society and companies in the areas of pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, ICT and services, among others.
Together, HCP and its members develop innovative projects and initiatives with the purpose of turning knowledge into new solutions that contribute to the improvement of human health and wellbeing, and also work to make Portugal the right place to invest and build partnerships in Health.
HCP’s main lines of action include the following:
- Boost the internationalization of the Portuguese Health & Care sector, increase exports and attract foreign investment.
- Foster open innovation, and stimulate clinical and translational research and R&D services.
- Organize networking/brokerage initiatives, disseminate partnership/business opportunities, and help to match demand and offer.
- Set up and facilitate collaborative projects in smart specialization areas.
- Facilitate the access by its members to high-quality services and to training in strategic areas – e.g., intellectual property, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, etc.
- Engage members in the cluster’s life and activities, and strengthen the voice of HCP and its members.
- Promote the reputation and the international visibility of the Portuguese Health & Care sector.
Together, HCP and its members develop innovative projects and initiatives with the purpose of turning knowledge into new solutions that contribute to the improvement of human health and wellbeing, and also work to make Portugal the right place to invest and build partnerships in Health.
HCP’s main lines of action include the following:
- Boost the internationalization of the Portuguese Health & Care sector, increase exports and attract foreign investment.
- Foster open innovation, and stimulate clinical and translational research and R&D services.
- Organize networking/brokerage initiatives, disseminate partnership/business opportunities, and help to match demand and offer.
- Set up and facilitate collaborative projects in smart specialization areas.
- Facilitate the access by its members to high-quality services and to training in strategic areas – e.g., intellectual property, clinical trials, regulatory affairs, etc.
- Engage members in the cluster’s life and activities, and strengthen the voice of HCP and its members.
- Promote the reputation and the international visibility of the Portuguese Health & Care sector.
Resources needed
Financially, HCP relies on membership fees (to cover at least the fixed costs), and on national/European funds (depending on available opportunities).
In terms of human resources, HCP has an executive team with 5 persons, backed by the Board of Directors and, as needed, by external experts.
In terms of human resources, HCP has an executive team with 5 persons, backed by the Board of Directors and, as needed, by external experts.
Evidence of success
Key achievements: Increase from 55 to 177 members. Organization of 80+ networking/information events, with 7500+ attendants. Development of several online resources – Website, Membership Directory, SciPort (Science and Technology Resources Database) – with 1.1 million pageviews. Over a dozen approved projects in competitive calls, worthing several million Euros. Stating Health & Care as a strategic sector for Portugal. Rated as best-performing Cluster in Portugal in an independent evaluation.
Potential for learning or transfer
Clusters active in the Health sector exist in many countries/regions (sometimes more than one in the same country), and tend to evolve more positively where a well-established sector and relevant critical mass already exists. The case of HCP, which has been created in 2008 as a unique cluster initiative dedicated to the Health & Care sector in Portugal, somehow shows the impact that this kind of initiative may also produce in boosting the success of not a mature sector, but one still emerging in a given country/region. This has, of course, the potential to be learned by other countries or sectors.
Keys to success and lessons learned:
- Attain appropriate levels of critical mass and representativeness of the involved sector(s) / value chain(s).
- Guarantee full commitment and active participation of relevant (and respected) stakeholders – members/organizations/people.
- Face quality and reputation as strategic assets.
- Safeguard a sustainable, long-term access to proper funding.
Keys to success and lessons learned:
- Attain appropriate levels of critical mass and representativeness of the involved sector(s) / value chain(s).
- Guarantee full commitment and active participation of relevant (and respected) stakeholders – members/organizations/people.
- Face quality and reputation as strategic assets.
- Safeguard a sustainable, long-term access to proper funding.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Health Cluster Portugal (HCP)
Portugal
Norte
Contact
Project Manager