Management and Evaluation of Innovation in the Health Sector

The course aims to illustrate the role of technology and innovation in economic development and how it can be an important competitive factor for companies. Particular attention is given to the models of technological evolution and to the implications from a managerial point of view. Product and process innovations and the different ways in which companies in the health sector organize them are examined, in terms of business models and strategic choices adopted.
Innovation management is strategic for companies but very complex. Many internal and external factors, some controllable others less, affect the success of the development process of new products, services and business models. The course aims to illustrate how the innovation process contributes to the competitiveness of the company, focusing on the organization of the new product development process, the organization of research and development, the evaluation of innovation projects and the tools to support the process itself in its different phases.
Innovation is increasingly benefiting from the involvement of actors external to the company, whether they are lead users, strategic suppliers, partners or anyone with complementary skills to the project to be developed. From the concept of closed innovation, we will therefore explore what it means to organize it in a more permeable way towards the outside (open innovation and innovation ecosystems) to improve the productivity of the innovation process itself.

At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
· Understanding how the new product development process is complex as it is inter-functional, transversal and by definition risky, which requires a clear strategy, a coherent organizational system, appropriate methodologies and supporting tools and technologies.
· Identify what are possible sources of innovation, both for new businesses and for improving existing businesses
· Understand the main advantages, obstacles and points of attention to consider in organizing an innovation process that is more open to the outside in its different phases (idea generation, technological development and market introduction)
· Know the main innovation projects evaluation tools
· Analyze the potential risks associated with complex collaborative projects involving entire supply chains.

Furthermore, through the learning approach that includes case studies, classroom discussion, individual and group presentations, and carrying out of assignments, the participant will develop autonomy of judgment, self-learning skills and communication skills.