Wir überwinden Grenzen

The visit will focus on projects of the Baden-Württemberg Healthcare Forum and lighthouse projects in digitalization and networking: regional, national and international

On Friday, February 25, 2022, Minister President Winfried Kretschmann visited the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. He was informed about digital and technological medical projects that are being realized in particular as part of the Baden-Württemberg Healthcare Forum. The program included an exchange on the Photon Counting Consortium led in Freiburg to establish the next digital generation of computer tomography, new digital possibilities in the operating theatre as well as an intensive exchange on the further development of innovation strategies and a model project for Franco-German cooperation in the healthcare sector.

"Only through intensive cooperation between healthcare, research and business can we make the healthcare sector innovative and ensure that new findings from research reach patient care as quickly as possible. With the Forum Gesundheitsstandort as a central platform for the players in Baden-Württemberg's healthcare sector, we have succeeded in doing just that," emphasized Minister President Kretschmann during his visit. The state's funding of around 100 million for model projects is significantly advancing the healthcare location in key technologies to improve healthcare provision. "I was also able to experience this impressively here at the University Hospital," said Kretschmann. "However, our joint work on overarching issues such as improving the use of healthcare data and promoting innovation is just as important. I am delighted that we are all pulling in the same direction here and can count on the expertise of our cutting-edge research."

"Close networking in the healthcare sector is essential for the further development of quality-centered cutting-edge medicine. We are on a very good path here, both in the area and between top medical centers and with innovative companies. The Baden-Württemberg Healthcare Forum accelerates and strengthens networking in the healthcare sector enormously and is already resulting in concrete benefits for patients, for example in imaging or personalized medicine," says Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.

Imaging of the next generation

Minister President Kretschmann first inspected a fully digital, innovative next-generation computer tomography device. It was established as part of the Photon Counting Consortium (PC3 Consortium) coordinated by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. Further devices were installed within the project at the Tübingen and Mannheim sites. The PC3 consortium is an integral part of the Baden-Württemberg Healthcare Forum. In photon counting, the high-resolution direct conversion of the incoming photons produces a digital signal that can be analyzed directly. As a result, photon counting CT enables considerable progress in terms of radiation exposure, optimized imaging and the resulting improved tissue characterization. It is therefore the basis for substantially improved digital patient care and for using the generated data for future therapeutic approaches.

Digitalization of the operating theatre

The future of intraoperative histology was presented to Minister President Kretschmann during a demonstration at the Neurocenter of the University Hospital. With the help of an analysis device that is unique in Europe, brain tissue can be examined for cancer cells in just three minutes, a tenth of the time previously required. This enables a much more precise, safer and more effective procedure in brain surgery. The insights were complemented by a demonstration of a robotically assisted 3D microscope, which is currently being further developed as part of a cooperation project with an industrial partner.

Innovation and networking for the healthcare of the future

Minister President Kretschmann had an intensive exchange with physicians and researchers from the Medical Center - University of Freiburg about the conditions and possibilities of innovative healthcare research. Prof. Dr. Dr. Melanie Börries, Director of the Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, presented the Freiburg Innovation and Translation Hubs as well as other projects funded by the Forum Gesundheitsstandort Baden-Württemberg. The Franco-German project CLINNOVA, which is already developing cross-border cooperation in the healthcare sector, was also presented. "The overarching goal of all those involved in the Baden-Württemberg Healthcare Forum is to maintain a high standard of medical care for citizens, promote technological and medical innovations and strengthen the national and international visibility of the healthcare industry. The forum has achieved a great deal in this area since it was founded in 2018," says Börries, who is also the spokesperson for the Baden-Württemberg Healthcare Forum on behalf of the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts.

The Baden-Württemberg Healthcare Forum

The Baden-Württemberg Healthcare Forum was founded in 2018 on the initiative of Minister President Kretschmann in order to achieve closer links and networking between the areas of research, the healthcare industry and healthcare provision and to develop Baden-Württemberg into a healthcare location at the highest possible level. The forum currently brings together more than 500 experts from hospitals and care facilities, research institutes and universities as well as biotech, pharmaceutical and medical technology companies from Baden-Württemberg. Together with the state government, all these players want to contribute to a strategic process to strengthen the healthcare industry and further improve healthcare provision for people in Baden-Württemberg.

Further information can be found at www.forum-gesundheitsstandort-bw.de

Captions:
Image 1: Minister President Winfried Kretschmann in conversation on site with Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Chief Medical Officer of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.
Image 2: Minister President Winfried Kretschmann wearing 3D glasses during a demonstration of a robotically assisted 3D microscope.
Image rights: Medical Center - University of Freiburg