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NST obtains a technology centre worth NOK 190 million:
Designated as Telemedicine Laboratory
- “This is a gratifying acknowledgement of the research community we have established in Tromsø. After a long selection process in competition with heavyweight centres of Norwegian research, this is an honour and a strong vote of confidence,” comments Sture Pettersen at the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine.
- “The primary criteria for selection are scientific quality at a high international level and the potential for innovation and value creation. Being entrusted us with this responsibility by an international scientific evaluation committee is like winning the World Cup football final,” says the director of the new centre, Professor Gunnar Hartvigsen (photo) at the University in Tromsø.
Annual funding NOK 10 mill
The centre will receive annual funding from the Research Council of NOK 10 million for a 5- to 8-year period. In addition, the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine and its collaborative partners will contribute resources in the form of competence and funds corresponding to a total value of NOK 110 million from 2006 to 2014.
New business and products
For North Norway, this means the establishment of a strong technological centre which will strengthen innovation through long-term telemedicine research in close cooperation between research-intensive enterprises and prominent research communities in Norway and abroad. The results of the research from Tromsø Telemedicine Laboratory will lay the foundation for establishing new businesses and products in health and ICT with the whole world as their market.
Smart sensors
Research at TTL will cover subjects such as how new “smart sensors” and personal terminals can be adapted to the steadily growing group of people with chronic diseases. These systems will be wireless and invisibly integrated with computer-based extended decision support. One of the objectives is to reduce the pressure on the health service.
For elderly people or chronically ill patients, this may improve quality of life through better control and follow-up of their own illness. Benefits for the public health service will be better quality and utilization of scarce resources.
A number of Partners
Through the Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine, the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority is the host institution for Tromsø Telemedicine Laboratory. Partners include the University of Tromsø, Telenor R&D, IBM R&D in Zürich, the independent research institute Norut IT, DIPS patient administration systems in Bodø, Well Diagnostics in Tromsø, WPR Medical in Arendal, the Northern Norway Regional Health Authority ICT and Norsk Helsenett, the Norwegian health network. The concept also includes agreements with large international universities in Munich, Aalborg, Oregon and Berkeley.
From the Press Conference with some of the partners; From left; Lars Vognild, Norut IT, Rolf Dahl, Well Diagnostics, Gunnvald Svendsen, Telenor R&D, Gunnar Hartvigsen, University of Tromsø, Tor Øydvin, University Hospital of North Norway, Sture Pettersen, NST and Hilde Pettersen, NST.
Foto: Jarl-Stian Olsen, NST
Contact:
Hilde Pettersen, Head of Information, NST
Tel. +47 991 03 794, E-mail: hilde.pettersen@telemed.no
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