04 Nov INNOVATE, COMPETE AND CONTRIBUTE: ACCELERATING HEALTH AND SPORTSTECH VENTURES IN EUROPE
“The Geopolitics of Health through Sportstech Innovation” is a course that examines the intersection of Life Sciences innovation and industrial sovereignty.
Within the umbrella of health, innovations in Biotech, Medtech and Digital Health can improve the wellbeing of patients and elite athletes. Often products and services for these distinct market segments are synergistic and represent not only economic opportunites but also political ones.
Industrial Sovereignty is the idea that nations benefit from providing access to key resources for its citizens (including technology, energy, medication and raw materials) without dependence on external trade or political relations. This concept questions global interdependencies – a prominent feature of globalization. This course showcases industrial sovereignty as a strategic priority since it impacts our health outcomes, supply chains and societal wellbeing.
The course explores the relationship between technological advances in the health sector (from everyday patients to athlete performance) and countries’ economic or cultural influence. In the context of globalization’s mixed outcomes, including the uneven distribution of wealth and diffusion of innovations, the course equips students with an analytical framework to predict developments in other strategic sectors of geopolitical importance. By recognizing how EU citizens benefit from strengthening health innovation, R&D and entrepreneurship in Europe, students are encouraged to develop measures to balance capital flight brain drain across their respective regions and sectors.
Additionally, the course emphasizes innovation pathways through an interactive approach, inviting students to engage in debate and critical thinking to address real-world economic and social problems. Through guided debate exercises, the course invites students to defend their stance on geopolitical drivers that shape the positioning and influence of some countries over others.
Overall, this course serves as a platform for students to make decisions in an increasingly complex world and make meaningful contributions to innovative tech projects in their current or target jobs.
ANA BARRENECHEA
Ms. Barrenechea is a professional with international experience in fundraising, European Union institutions and entrepreneurship ecosystems. Her years of experience at the European Institute of Technology (EIT Health) and the European Investment Fund equip her to speak to the geopolitics of healthtech innovation. She currently facilitates start-up fundraising activities and public-private co-investments in Biotech, Medtech and Digital Health. Additionally, she drives the sponsor acquisition and partnership building arm of the Fútbol Doctors Network. Ms. Barrenechea previously held positions at the Embassy of Spain in Washington D.C. and Elcano Royal Institute in Madrid.
Skills
Objectives and skills students will get Example:
1. The student will be able to define and showcase applications of international relations concpets including Industrial Sovereignty and Soft Power
2. Students will be equipped to defend their stance on the role Life Science Innovation and Sports play in global political affairs
3. Students will be acquainted with a practical framework and real-life examples of public-private initiatives to confront the geopolitical and economic context.
4. Students will develop a multidisciplinary lens through which to view technological innovation pathways.
Schedule
Which dates?
24-sep
01-oct
08-oct
15-oct
22-oct
29-oct
What day?
Tuesday
What time?
9,30-11,00