ZIM innovation network HealthGoGreen Sustainable medical products
The successes of today's medicine are accompanied by high ecological costs. From the manufacture of disposable products and their packaging, to energy consumption and the disposal of medical waste, every phase of the life cycle of medical products has a noticeable impact on the environment. The international HealthGoGreen network aims to establish the development and production of new sustainable medical products, moving away from traditional materials, products and processes towards future-oriented innovations without compromising on safety and quality.
The aim of the ZIM innovation network HealthGoGreen
The project involves establishing and developing the innovation network ‘HealthGoGreen, sustainable medical products’
Traditionally, the medical technology industry has produced groundbreaking innovations that have saved, prolonged and improved lives.
However, the success of these advances has been and continues to be accompanied by high ecological demands and costs. From the manufacture of disposable products and their packaging, to energy consumption and the disposal of medical waste, every phase of the life cycle of medical devices has a noticeable impact on the environment.
In a world that is increasingly characterised by environmental awareness and social responsibility, the medical technology industry is also facing the challenge of implementing more sustainable products and practices. Many companies have already taken the first steps by switching to biocompatible materials, optimising energy consumption and introducing recycling programmes.
The overarching goal of the international HealthGoGreen network is to develop and produce new sustainable medical products, moving away from traditional materials, products and processes and towards forward-looking innovations, without compromising on safety and quality. As always with ZIM innovation networks, this is to be achieved within a consortium of companies and research institutions on the basis of specific product developments and improvements. Companies and research institutions participating in this network have the unique opportunity to be identified as pioneers in the field of sustainable medical technology and to establish themselves as innovators and trailblazers.
In addition to reducing the consumption of resources, approaches to waste prevention, the recycling of medical technology products, and constructive redesign in the sense of eco- and medical design are pursued and implemented on real products.
Medical technology markets and sustainability efforts are already internationally oriented when considered in isolation, so that the combination of the two is even more relevant internationally.
The possibility of complementing innovation networks with regular international partners, as offered by ZIM, creates further potential for innovative R&D projects with regard to the technical and technological content of the network. We have decided to start phase 1 as an international ZIM innovation network in Portugal.
Vision of the network
The vision of the HealthGoGreen innovation network is to create a lasting technical platform for the exchange of knowledge and for the realisation of new sustainable product ideas for the medical market. The cooperation of the existing international partners should be promoted beyond the funding period and internationalisation should be expanded by including other countries.
This not only promotes innovation but also the relationships between the partners and contributes to the holistic development of the industry.
The innovation network goes beyond simply demonstrating environmental awareness and enables the network partners to strengthen their competitiveness, open up new markets for new products and consolidate their long-term corporate responsibility. The strategic integration of sustainability approaches not only offers ecological advantages, but also ensures that the partners respond to the increasing demand for environmentally friendly products and ethical business practices. This reputation strengthens their position in an increasingly demanding market and helps to ensure long-term business stability.
The wide range of design options and the excellent medical properties of plastics, coupled with the wealth of experience of numerous established system suppliers, are opening up new areas of application for OEMs from a wide range of industries (automotive, electronics, medical technology, mechanical and plant engineering, telecommunications, etc.).
Possible lines of development
Initial approaches to sustainability are new innovative or improved medical products made of plastic or composite materials that are used in hospitals, doctors' surgeries, rehabilitation centres and also for personal use by patients. The portfolio ranges from the use of bioplastics, medical products made from recycled materials, and waste avoidance in doctors' surgeries and hospitals, to efficient plastics recycling. The aim here is always to develop marketable products or processes that meet these requirements.
Become a network partner!
- Are you an SME (<500 employees, <50 million euros annual turnover, <43 million euros annual balance sheet total) or an R&D institution (associated partner)?
- Do you have innovative ideas that you have not yet been able to implement?
- Do you want to have your innovations financed by non-repayable funding?
- Are you looking for partners to implement your ideas or to open up new markets?
- Do your technology components and your business orientation fit into our portfolio?
Then get funding!
We support the entire application process and the funding administration.
WHAT IS FUNDED?
The ZIM innovation networks funding pillar combines funding for network management services with the network's development projects. The networks consist of at least six small and medium-sized enterprises. Other partners can also participate (e.g. research institutions, universities, large companies and other organisations such as associations).
What is a ZIM innovation network?
An innovation network refers to the merger of at least six SMEs and research and development institutions with the aim of jointly developing innovative products, processes or services and developing utilisation concepts. The goal is synergetic cooperation in one or more fields of technology, from research and development to the marketing of the R&D results. Within an innovation network, both the management of the network (ZIM-KN) and the activities for the development of R&D projects (ZIM-SOLO, ZIM-KOOP) are funded. The network is coordinated by network managers.
Network management – Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid
The Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid (KIMW) focuses on improving the quality and cost-effectiveness of injection-moulded parts made of thermoplastics and their coatings. The institute acts as a link and a source of expertise between basic university research and industrial companies by developing market-oriented, pre-competitive innovations to market maturity as part of industrial research.
The network management is carried out by KIMW Management GmbH (KIMW-M). The network management supports companies in identifying ideas, helps them to find suitable funding programmes and assists them in implementing them.
The many years of experience in network management are also reflected in the development of various networks. In the ZIM innovation networks of KIMW-M, companies and research institutions from different industries work together in a network on joint research and development projects. In addition, training opportunities are organised for members.
The ‘Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid’ cluster is a well-functioning, constantly growing network geared towards sustainability and supported exclusively by industry funds. The thematic priorities are in surface and decoration processes for plastic parts, in the modification of tool and component surfaces using surface and layer technologies, and in the analysis and testing technology of surfaces and plastics. As early as 2005, the network Trägergesellschaft Kunststoff-Institut e.V. with its partners was accepted into ‘Kompetenznetze Deutschland’, today ‘gocluster’ for the field of surface technology and plastics. Since March 2013, the institute has been awarded the Gold Label for Cluster Management Excellence. Furthermore, the association is a supporting organisation of the Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid and an active member of Kunststoffland NRW and a stakeholder of NRW.Europa (02/2013). KIMW has built up more than three decades of experience in the field of project management.
Network structure – participating actors
Benefits and advantages for network partners
- Securing your innovative potential
- Easy access to funding and to national and international projects
- Development synergies
- Reduction of R&D costs
- Network management takes on the formalities
- Support in accessing new markets
- Expansion and further development of innovation strategies beyond one's own nose
- Realisation of innovative ideas and projects that could not previously be implemented
SUBSIDISATION & PROCEDURE
The 18-month phase 1 is followed by the funding phase 2, the duration and funding rates of which vary depending on the orientation of the network:
For international networks, phase 2 is scheduled to last 36 months. In this case, network management costs in phase 2 are funded at a rate of 80% in the first year, 60% in the second and 40% in the third year. The specific funding rates enable targeted support, adapted to the respective requirements of national and international projects.
Costs per participant for the second phase will probably be around €2,500, depending on the number of participants.
Phase 1: 01/11/2024 – 30/04/2026
Phase 2: 01/05/2026 – 30/04/2029
CONTACT AND REFERENCES
Torsten Urban
Telephone +49 2351 1064-114
urban@kimw.de
Thomas Eulenstein
Telephone +49 2351 1064-195
eulenstein@kimw.de
Lydia Kalle
Telephone +49 2351 1064-196
kalle@kimw.de
Kunststoff-Institut Lüdenscheid
KIMW Management GmbH
Karolinenstraße 8
58507 Lüdenscheid
Deutschland
Tel: 0 23 51 - 1064 191
Fax: 0 23 51 - 1064 190
E-Mail: mail@kimw.de