Technology Assessment and Technology TransferOliver WellsChairman ABHI Medical Technology Policy GroupCo-ordinator Integrated Healthcare Technologies, EPSRC

- covering -What could the future be?What are the barriers to uptake of new technologies?What role does Technology Assessment play?Possible ways to break the log jamMATCH consortium

Perfect Future?Typical healthy life span to over 100Artificial replacement body partsUbiquitous Telecare/TelemedicineRestoring sightRobotic assistants for mobility and help

Key questionsKey questions for exploitation decisionsIs there a need for it?Will it work?What is it worth?Will people buy it?

Is there a need?Will there be applications for the technologyWho are the potential users of the technologyHow will we find an optimum configuration for the technology?Major issuesEthics of researching needs and value of ATsIntrusivenessPersonal informationClinical Trial Ethical Approval

Will it work?Getting it through regulatory hurdlesWill it fit within constraints of current infrastructure?Is the underpinning science and technology there?Where are the several technology life cycles?Are there consumer drivers which will significantly impact cost and availability?Design for All?

How well does it fit?Fit with industryCustomer companiesCompetitor responseWhen will industry want to get involved?Industry cycle:Pharmaceutical industry cycleInformation technology cycleInvestment requiredTechnology scalabilityScope for evolutionSupply chain

Supply Chain issuesWhat is the supply chain?What is the value chain?Who drives the value chain in innovative technologies?Customer?Technology Source?Service provider?

Products to SystemsProduct manufacturerSystems IntegratorCustomer

TCPI: TeleCare Planning & ImplementationMultidisciplinary Project Imperial College (was SPRU, University of Sussex)Industry: ICT, Facilities Management, AT suppliersHealthcare Providers: North West SurreyTheoretical study of supply chain issuesColumba Project: assessment of patients to remain at home with Telecare support

Funding TypesUnless systems are used, we dont know what problems to solve

Procurement of Health TechnologiesDifference between UK defence and NHS modelsRecognise strategic needMotivate a supply chain to design and deliverProcure technologyvs.Hope it is there when we want to buy itHealth Technology Procurement RisksObsolescence first generation risksValue of technologyPost code availabilityWhat functions are needed on roll out?

Customer risksAgeing Customer wealth?Technology acceptance?Extension of active working life?Pensions?

What is it worth?How can we measure the worth of a technology?Health Technology AssessmentWhat do we mean by Data?QualityDiversityModelling vs. measuringWhen do we measure a technologys value?

Engineering based technologies are dynamicDifference between engineering and traditional pharmaceutical curesLearning curves for users and developersReduce costImprove effectivenessContinuing technology improvement (2-5 year refreshment cycles)

Value How to assess it?Value from whose viewpoint?UsersCarersPayers (NHS/DSS)InsuranceSociety at large CostCostInitial costLife costBenefitsWelfare impactsResources freedOpportunity valueFactors external to the technology which can impact value (e.g.. Training)

Technology TransferWho to transfer to?Large companiesStrategic Fit?Capacity?SMEsInsufficient resources for a major technologyConsortiumLack of stability to see through to market

Barriers to technology transferIndustry WeaknessesTechnology ComplexitiesProduct DefinitionMarket weaknessesCapacity to innovate

Capacity to develop new TechnologyVC Investment - 5m to 50mTypical winner success rate 10%Investment cost per winner technology - 200mInvestment cost for 100 new winner technologies?MoneyPeople

EPSRC Technology AssessmentWorkshop 23-24 April 2002Improvement in medical engineering industry performance based on better informed use of technology assessment methodologies leading to:Accelerated time to market uptake of good innovative technologiesImproved iterative product development programmes

Research Themes

Match proposalMultidisciplinary Assessment of Technology Centre for Health University of UlsterUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of BirminghamKings College LondonBrunel University

The Medical Technology sector

Global Business100B+UK3B

How can we untangle this?Producttransactionor encounterassessmentofvaluegoodprocess

So why should a group of academics hope to make any impact?Effective, affordable trialsAffordable, effective manufactureEffective, Useable products

What can we do in these areas?New methods for assessingvalue at all stagesProject 1Project 2Project 3Intellectual innovationMATCHProf Richard Lilford (Birmingham & DoH R&D)Prof Martin Buxton (Brunel)Prof Hywel Williams (Nottingham& Director, Trent Inst. Health Service Research)

What can we do in these areas?New methods for assessingvalue at all stagesProject 1Methods for optimisedprocessesProject 2Project 3Intellectual innovationMATCHProf Richard LilfordProf Martin BuxtonProf Hywel WilliamsProf John Anderson & Dr Brian Meenan (Ulster)- strong industrial engagementProf Terry Young (Brunel) 16 years in industry

What can we do in these areas?New methods for assessingvalue at all stagesProject 1Methods for optimisedprocessesProject 2Methods & metrics forengagement with usersProject 3Intellectual innovationMATCHProf Richard LilfordProf Martin BuxtonProf Hywel WilliamsProf John Anderson & Dr Brian MeenanProf Terry YoungProf Ian Robinson (Brunel) - sickness, disease, etcDr Trisha Grocott (KCL) patient care Dr John Crowe (Nottingham) - engineering approaches

Its a two speed economyIntellectual innovationIndustrial impactMATCH

So we partition the programmeIntellectual innovationIndustrial impact

Will MATCH make an impact?What are the critical success factors ?

Compelling intellectual innovation linked to critical industrial impact

Commitment to industrys needs

A highly cross disciplinary team of exceptional people who can work together

Partitioning and management structures to handle the academic/industrial interface

Commitment to the wider community

A growing international network.MATCH meets them all

ConclusionFocus on improving procurement of good Assistive TechnologiesPartnership with healthcare funding bodies:ResearchersIndustryHealthcareNew methodologies to determine value of technologies at earliest stage

Artificial organs:KidneysPancreasHeartsJoint implants which dont failTelecare/TelemedicineRemote monitoring of problemsProactive responses to possible problemsImmediate support deliveredRestoring sight