Stockholm mHealth potential mapped

With a first-class reputation for innovation in both medical technology and mobile communication, the capital of Sweden has emerged as a front-runner in mobile healthcare.

Now a new report, compiled by the Stockholm m-Health Team and Stockholm Business Region Development, aims to give international companies and investors an insight into the Stockholm and Uppsala m-health sector.

“It’s hard to envision a more suitable place for m-health investment than Stockholm – the birthplace of smartphone technology, and the home of one of Europe’s strongest life science clusters,” the report said.

Companies including Kiwok, Zenicor and Ortivus are featured in a list of the region's most important m-health companies and consultancy partners.

The report also highlights a number of research programs that could be of interest for international investors.

“In the short term, the global medtech industry primarily needs information and communication solutions, leading to very interesting business opportunities,” the report said.

With a rapidly ageing population; increasing rates of chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and heart disease; and curbs on government spending in many countries, demand for mobile healthcare is booming across the world.

The market for mobile health technology was estimated to be $1.5 billion in 2010. That figure is expected to increase by 25 percent annually to reach $4.6 billion by 2014, according to the CSMG report "mHealth: Taking the Pulse".

• Remote measurements

• The possibility to transfer measurements from wherever you are.
• Integration of mobile data technologies with medtech sensors and probes.

• Remote monitoring

• The possibility to constantly monitor and transfer data.
• Integration of mobile data technologies with medtech sensors.

• Flexible patient data management

• The integration of sensory data with journals.
• The flexible access to sensory data and journals.

Source: Stockholm-Uppsala mHealth Outlook: A survey of regional opportunities, position and potential, September 2011

This article was published in collaboration between Stockholm Business Region and The Swedish Wire.