Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)

Course Description Status: Approved

Course Description Version: 26/27.P.1.00

Description Period: 2026./27 academic year pavasara semestris

Study Course Accepted: -

Study Course Description

HealthTech Innovations and Commercialisation

Main Study Course Information

Course Code
VVDG_050
Branch of Science
Economics and Business
ECTS
5.00
Target Audience
Digital Health; Health Management
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time

Study Course Implementer

Course Supervisor
Olav Goetz
Structure Unit Manager
Daiga Behmane
Structural Unit
Health Management Teaching Group
Contacts

Dzirciema iela 16, Rīga

About Study Course

Objective

The aim of the course is to enable students to understand and apply the process of developing and commercialising HealthTech innovations – from the identification of healthcare needs and the generation of ideas to the development of viable business models and market entry strategies. The course introduces entrepreneurship in the healthcare sector and addresses the specific features of healthcare markets, including the roles of users, customers and payers, regulatory requirements, clinical and health-economic evidence, reimbursement, financing and market access.

Preliminary Knowledge

Basic knowledge of healthcare systems, health management and digital transformation in healthcare is recommended. No prior knowledge of entrepreneurship is required.

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge

1.Describe the characteristics of the health care market and the specificity of the health technology innovation ecosystem, including the roles of users, customers and payers;

Individual work and tests

Group work • Group work: written business plan

2.Identify the main steps in the innovation process from the identification of a health care need to the commercialisation of a health technology innovation

Individual work and tests

Group work: written business plan • Presentation of the business plan of the group

3.Describe the importance of regulatory, clinical and health economic evidence, reimbursement and financing for health technology companies

Individual work and tests

Group work

Skills

1.Characterise and validate health care problems as innovation opportunities

Individual work and tests

Presentation of the business plan of the group • Group work

2.Develop a value proposition and business model that takes into account the needs of users, customers and payers

Individual work and tests

Presentation of the business plan of the group

3.Develop a health technology innovation commercialization strategy and business plan, present and defend the developed business idea

Individual work and tests

Group work: written business plan

Competences

1.Critically evaluate the commercial potential of HealthTech innovations

Individual work and tests

Presentation of the business plan of the group

2.Demonstrate the ability to create and present a HealthTech development strategy and a structured business plan

Individual work and tests

Group work: written business plan

Assessment

Individual work

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Group work
30.00% from total grade
10 points

Group presents health technology innovation value proposition and potential business model
2.

Presentation of the business plan of the group
30.00% from total grade
10 points

Group presents HealthTech innovation business plan and commercialization potential

Examination

Title
% from total grade
Grade
1.

Group work: written business plan
40.00% from total grade
10 points

Report including a HeathTech development strategy and a structured business plan

Study Course Theme Plan

FULL-TIME
Part 1

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Introduction to HealthTech Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Description
  • HealthTech innovation ecosystem
  • Specifics of healthcare markets (users, customers, payers)

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Healthcare needs and ideation
Description
  • Unmet needs, problem–solution fit, patient- and user-centred design
  • Value proposition and validation
  • Stakeholder analysis and customer discovery

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Healthcare needs and ideation
Description
  • Unmet needs, problem–solution fit, patient- and user-centred design
  • Value proposition and validation
  • Stakeholder analysis and customer discovery

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Business models in healthcare
Description
  • Revenue and payer models
  • B2B/B2C/B2G
  • Procurement by providers and public payers

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Business models in healthcare
Description
  • Revenue and payer models
  • B2B/B2C/B2G
  • Procurement by providers and public payers

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Financing, Intellectual Property and Scaling
Description
  • Funding stages, public and EU funding, venture capital, IP protection
  • Go-to-market strategies
  • Scaling and internationalisation of HealthTech ventures

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Financing, Intellectual Property and Scaling
Description
  • Funding stages, public and EU funding, venture capital, IP protection
  • Go-to-market strategies
  • Scaling and internationalisation of HealthTech ventures

  1. Lecture

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Business case development and pitch coaching
Description
  • Heakth Tech strategy and business case development
  • Health Tech Pitch coaching

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Introduction to HealthTech Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Description
  • HealthTech innovation ecosystem
  • Specifics of healthcare markets (users, customers, payers)

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Healthcare needs and ideation
Description
  • Unmet needs, problem–solution fit, patient- and user-centred design
  • Value proposition and validation
  • Stakeholder analysis and customer discovery

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Healthcare needs and ideation
Description
  • Unmet needs, problem–solution fit, patient- and user-centred design
  • Value proposition and validation
  • Stakeholder analysis and customer discovery

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Healthcare needs and ideation
Description
  • Unmet needs, problem–solution fit, patient- and user-centred design
  • Value proposition and validation
  • Stakeholder analysis and customer discovery

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Healthcare needs and ideation
Description
  • Unmet needs, problem–solution fit, patient- and user-centred design
  • Value proposition and validation
  • Stakeholder analysis and customer discovery

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Business models in healthcare
Description
  • Revenue and payer models
  • B2B/B2C/B2G
  • Procurement by providers and public payers

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Regulatory framework for HealthTech
Description
  • Regulatory framework for HealthTech: MDR/IVDR (software as a medical device), data protection, EU AI Act, European Health Data Space
  • Clinical and health-economic evidence, health technology assessment and reimbursement pathways

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Regulatory framework for HealthTech
Description
  • Regulatory framework for HealthTech: MDR/IVDR (software as a medical device), data protection, EU AI Act, European Health Data Space
  • Clinical and health-economic evidence, health technology assessment and reimbursement pathways

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Financing, Intellectual Property and Scaling
Description
  • Funding stages, public and EU funding, venture capital, IP protection
  • Go-to-market strategies
  • Scaling and internationalisation of HealthTech ventures

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Business case development and pitch coaching
Description
  • Heakth Tech strategy and business case development
  • Health Tech Pitch coaching

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Business case development and pitch coaching
Description
  • Heakth Tech strategy and business case development
  • Health Tech Pitch coaching

  1. Class/Seminar

Modality
Location
Contact hours
On site
Study room
2

Topics

Business case development and pitch coaching
Description
  • Heakth Tech strategy and business case development
  • Health Tech Pitch coaching
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
5.00
Contact hours:
40 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)

Bibliography

Required Reading

1.

Yock, P. G., et.al. (2015). Biodesign: The Process of Innovating Medical Technologies (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press

2.

Meyers, A. (Ed.). (2023). Digital Health Entrepreneurship (2nd ed.). Springer

3.

Aulet, B. (2024). Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup (Expanded & Updated ed.). Wiley

4.

Drummond et al. (2015). Methods for the Economic Evaluation of Health Care Programmes, 4th ed., Oxford University Press

5.

Herzlinger (2006), Why Innovation in Health Care Is So Hard, Harvard Business Review (via EBSCO)

Additional Reading

1.

Osterwalder, A., & Pigneur, Y. (2010). Business Model Generation: A Handbook for Visionaries, Game Changers, and Challengers. Wiley

2.

Osterwalder, A., Pigneur, Y., Bernarda, G., & Smith, A. (2014). Value Proposition Design: How to Create Products and Services Customers Want. Wiley.

Other Information Sources

1.

Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence (Artificial Intelligence Act), and related European Commission guidance.

2.

Regulation (EU) 2025/327 on the European Health Data Space, and related European Commission implementation guidance