Massachusetts Launches Digital Health Innovation Hub Initiative
Massachusetts is bringing together stakeholders across state government, healthcare and the technology sector in a public-private partnership to stimluate the state's health IT sector, including the creation of a hub for health IT innovation in Boston, according to an announcement from Governor Charlie Baker.
“Our administration is committed to making Massachusetts a national leader in digital health by partnering with private industry, convening key stakeholders and addressing market gaps,” Gov. Baker said in a statement. “This emerging industry cluster has the potential to become a powerful driver of job creation across the Commonwealth, while also unlocking new advances in improving patient care and lowering health care costs.”
The announcement was made at Boston Children’s Hospital where Gov. Baker was joined by Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Speaker Robert A. DeLeo and executives from the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership (MACP) along with leaders from across state government, healthcare and the technology sector. The comprehensive public-private partnership is designed to accelerate the competitiveness of the Commonwealth’s digital healthcare industry.
The initiative will bring public, private, academic and healthcare leaders together to build a more connected statewide digital health ecosystem. To support digital health startups, the City of Boston, Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech (MeHI) and MACP announced the establishment of a digital health innovation hub. The initiative will provide office space for digital health startups and will serve as a Boston “hub” for the industry. .
According to the announcement from Gov. Baker, Massachusetts is well-positioned for success in digital health as host to healthcare and academic institutions, strong startup culture, significant venture capital investment, a dominant life sciences sector and roughly 250 existing digital health companies.
MACP also announced several private industry-led initiatives designed to help accelerate growth in the digital health sector, including innovative approaches to provide private funds for digital healthcare companies that are starting up, located in, or planning to re-locate to, Massachusetts.
Gov. Baker and Secretary Ash have designated the Massachusetts eHealth Institute at MassTech (MeHI) as the state’s implementing agency. Led by a strategy committee composed of leaders across industry, academia, healthcare and government, MeHI will work on cluster development activities designed to promote and support the sector and will co-invest in the establishment of a digital healthcare hub in Boston.
