Background
Background
Section 6.6 of the final report for the coordination project contains the following recommendation:
- The plan should have a strategy for the development and procurement of AI solutions in the health and care services. The objective of the strategy should be to ensure that the health and care services contribute to the development of AI equipment in a cost-effective and future-proof manner.
It should be noted that the assignment for the Ministry of Health and Care Services was to prepare a joint AI plan, rather than a strategy, which was proposed in the final report. In the work on a joint AI plan, one of the key priorities is to facilitate the adoption of commercial AI products. This area has therefore been given a low priority and has not yet been investigated.
What is the problem?
Stringent quality requirements have been imposed for the transition from research and development to AI systems for clinical use in the health service, and our consultation meetings indicate that these requirements are also challenging to understand. This makes it demanding for researchers and developers to both familiarise themselves with and comply with the applicable rules and requirements. It can be both difficult and time-consuming to secure funding for an entire R&D cycle, which includes commercialisation.
What we want to achieve
It should be more effective to both develop and commercialise AI systems. In the long term, this could lead to more research projects being developed into AI products that are taken into use and offer benefits in the health and care services.
Research and development communities should be more aware of frameworks and guidelines relating to AI systems, such as regulations relating to medical devices so that they can make the right choices in both research projects and any commercialisation processes. Furthermore, needs as regards support for AI commercialisation processes should be identified, e.g. linked to regulations, practical considerations and funding.
What is happening within the area?
- The “AI billion” (forskningsradet.no) is a government initiative which aims to boost research efforts relating to artificial intelligence and digital technologies by at least NOK 1 billion over the next five years.
- Existing structures for supporting commercialisation in the field of health, such as the Health Catalyst (healthcatalyst.no), the health clusters and the Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) at universities and research institutions and others.
- The Medical Products Agency publishes and maintains guidance concerning regulations relating to medical devices [55] and provides a guidance service for innovation [56].
- TEF Health [57] (Testing and Experimentation Facility for Health AI and Robotics) will offer standards for certification and quality control to simplify the processes to bring responsible AI systems to market.
How to do it
The following activities are relevant:
- Investigate barriers and possible measures to develop more research projects into AI products.
- For example, one possible measure could be to further develop existing structures for support for commercialisation.
- Assess the need for clearer management of and prioritisation support for the desired direction of development. Needs should be assessed in conjunction with the sector.
- For example, relevant measures could include preparing an annual report on the desired direction.
- Consider preparing guidance relating to research, development and commercialisation of AI systems for the health and care services
Current collaboration
The Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) at the universities, R&D stakeholders, the Norwegian Directorate of Health, the health and care services and the Medical Products Agency.