Health Care Service Innovation: dynamic service capabilities in the Rotterdam area

Abstract

Health care expenses are growing faster than the GDP in the Netherlands. The demand for health care will grow even more substantially in the future due to an ageing population. Innovative efforts can contribute to more efficient health care services. At the same time the quality can be improved for patients and citizens. Despite tremendous opportunities, innovating in this sector is complex and involves many actors. This research attempts to obtain insights in how different actors are involved in the service innovation process. The role of various actors is approached from a regional innovation system (RIS) perspective. Dynamic service innovation capabilities (den Hertog et al., 2010) are used to explain and analyse different aspects of the service innovation process. How these dynamic capabilities are distributed among participants indicates the importance of various actors participating in the innovation process. An answer is formulated to how the RIS enables and supports health care service innovation. Three service innovation cases are investigated in the Rotterdam area. The research furthermore points out the importance of user pilots, co-developing and an open innovation structure.