MultiHelix is a Lund-based knowledge-oriented company with a global outlook. Through its activities and channels, more precisely the Twins’ International MultiHelix initiative (TIM), and the MultiHelix Think Tank (MTT), MultiHelix makes a significant difference to a lot of clusters and companies in Life Science.
Ursula Hultkvist Bengtsson founded MultiHelix in 2016 based on the need of obtaining expertise and contacts across borders. Almost all companies operating within the Life Science industry can benefit from international contacts. However, obtaining these contacts can be tricky.
“Setting up business in another country, perhaps even on another continent, will most likely present some difficult hurdles. Our role is to help companies get around these hurdles as efficiently and quickly as possible. Therefore cross-border networks are so important to us at MultiHelix”, says Ursula Hultkvist Bengtsson.
Looking at healthcare systems of the future
The very idea of MultiHelix is for its members, in MTT as well as in the TIM-network, to look at challenges in unison and possibly develop solutions that work in all regions. TIM started out as a close collaboration platform of five countries in Europe and North America in 2016. Today it includes ten countries over three continents: Europe, North America and Asia.
Interestingly, one of the most prominent challenges faced by all regions is that of an aging population and its impact on healthcare systems.
Developing healthcare systems of the future is also the key subject of MTT as from 2020.
Initially, only Swedish members attended the MTT-activities. In fall 2019, the members representing each nation were able to attend the TIM annual meeting and for the first time take part in an elaborate Think Tank on the theme future healthcare. The annual meeting was synchronised with the Nordic Life Science days in Malmö, Sweden, in September 2019.
“The outcome of our first international MTT activity exceeded all expectations. Our ambition is to have at least one international meeting or webinar within MTT each year, as well as our regional five”, says Ursula Hultkvist Bengtsson.
Future healthcare in MultiHelix activities
MTT is a great resource of knowledge with its >100 members and ideally an environment of mind expansion. Some examples of common themes discussed during previous MTT-events are future healthcare and digital systems, food in connection to health and sustainability, prevention of disease and promotion of health, and everyone’s right to healthy lives and well-being according to the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda 2030.
Future healthcare and the development of tomorrow’s sustainable healthcare systems will be the core of MTT activities from now on. Members of TIM will create an international value chain focusing on various areas where the development of future healthcare and related sectors are in the forefront. “The challenges that come with an aging population are present in all TIM members’ nations. Being able to achieve the goals outlined in the United Nations’ sustainable development agenda 2030 has everything to do with being able to meet these challenges. Therefore, we will focus on supporting the creation of future healthcare in MultiHelix activities ahead”, Ursula Hultkvist Bengtsson concludes.
