Health participated in a seminar on the role of innovation as a driving force.

Andalusia, November 2011- Ministry of health, through the technology transfer Office of the public health system in Andalusia (OTT-SSPA), participated on Friday on a day that has been analyzed and discussed the role of innovation as an element of economic development for the businessespecially for the biotechnology sector.

In this regard, the director of the Andalusian, Javier Montero, emphasis on the ability of the public health system in Andalusia to generate new business opportunities in the field of biotechnology from a continued commitment to innovation and sustainable development. The interest of biotechnology companies in the field of health by Andalusia has grown in parallel to the consolidation of the public health system as an organizational model of quality, with high levels of scientific and medical excellence and whose size equals that of some European countries.

Montero has highlighted these ideas during his speech at the roundtable focused on analyzing the current state of corporate social responsibility as an engine of the economy and which has also involved representatives of the Zeltia Group (business group in the biopharmaceutical sector) and Forética (Association of entities for the development of corporate social responsibility). Also explained that technological innovation is a fundamental pillar on the sustainability of the Andalusian health system ”, which guarantees public-private partnerships and effective strategic alignment within the health system in Andalusia in order to generate greater competitiveness and lower risk projects.

Finally, the director of the OTT, has detailed the portfolio of services that this Office offers the sector and has highlighted the activity being done by this institution, whose purpose is the effective translation of the results of health research to citizenship through various formulas such as licenses, agreements of collaboration or even creation of biotechnology-based companies.

Technology and innovation in the public health system

Currently, and result of the investigations made by health professionals, the public health of Andalusia has a wide range of technological possibilities that awaken the interest of companies in the biotechnology sector and other related entities with the generation of knowledge and r & d.

Thus so far this year, the work of the OTT – located in the heart of the Andalusian progress public foundation and health-, it has enabled close the agreement of five operating licences and 70 intellectual property records, of which 22 are international patent applications have been made.

These results should add 16 collaborative arrangements that have been signed with different companies in the biotechnology sector that funded projects of research groups of the public health system in Andalusia as their services.