Invest4Health

Objectives

'Invest4Health' is a European research project (HORIZON-Europe) with the aim of no longer seeing health as a cost factor, but as an investment. The focus is on the development of so-called Smart Capacitating Investment (SCI) models, which are intended to make preventive and health-promoting measures more financially attractive and trigger cross-sector investments. In the face of growing social, economic and environmental challenges, 'Invest4Health' offers new ways of using public and private funds specifically to promote well-being and prevent disease.

By setting up real test environments in several European regions, the concept is being tested and further developed in practice. The aim is to create transferable business and financing models as well as digital cooperation platforms that enable long-term scalability and citizen participation.

Solution path

The project pursues an interdisciplinary and multi-stage approach:

• Model development and testing:
  Development of functional prototypes of SCI models, which will be implemented and validated in four European test regions (including Germany).
• Real testbeds:
  Application in various settings, for example in the context of digital working environments, social prescription initiatives or life-phase-oriented prevention.
• Financing innovation:
  Development of innovative, investment-friendly financing mechanisms for the sustainable promotion of healthcare services.
• Digital platforms & Co-Governance:
  Designing and testing digital spaces for data-based decision-making and the involvement of local communities and citizens' committees.
• Scaling strategy:
  Development of a social franchising model for the Europe-wide expansion of effective prevention services.

Role of FIR

FIR an der RWTH Aachen is contributing its expertise in business model development and the design of digital platform ecosystems to 'Invest4Health'. Specifically, the FIR takes on the following tasks:

• Development and testing of innovative business models
  for prevention-oriented services as part of smart investments.
• Testbed 'Home office prevention':
  In a German sub-project, the FIR is testing a platform concept to promote ergonomic health in the home office. The aim is to develop modular service bundles (e.g. advice, digital tools, interventions) that respond preventively to typical stresses in the home office.
• User-centered platform design:
  Together with potential users and partner companies, the FIR analyzes existing ecosystems, identifies relevant players and requirements and designs a scalable digital platform on this basis.
• Coordination with the industry:
  Through close cooperation with companies, needs-based solutions are developed and tested in an iterative process.

By combining research, practical relevance and industry partnership, the FIR makes a key contribution to the transferability and market proximity of the 'Invest4Health' results.