US Screening and Evaluation System of Inventions Utilized in Hungary

The commercialization of inventions is very complex and challenging therefore it requires the collaboration of several actors in an economy. Even when an invention possesses significant added value, its successful commercialization could only be executed in a stable macroeconomic and innovation environment and also if proper innovation management expertise is provided. ValDeal Innovations Zrt. was established to foster the commercialization of Hungarian, high business potential inventions by providing its business expertise. The company used an – already in various markets and countries probed – US innovation management method consisting of the tasks of technology evaluation as well as the commercialization of inventions. There were major changes necessary while probing the US method residing in the different macroeconomic circumstances and the attitudes for innovation in Hungary. The article details the above mentioned issues together with the conclusions the members of ValDeal have drawn during the innovation management process.

Doctor-Patient Knowledge Transfer: Innovative Technologies and Policy Implications

The aim of this study was to empirically investigate the barriers in doctor-patient communication and knowledge transfer and the role of innovative technologies in overcoming these barriers. We applied qualitative research methods. Our results show that patients extensively use information sources, primarily the Internet before the visits. Patients regularly apply a self-diagnosis regarding their diseases. This implies several risks as many of them are not able to properly interpret the found information and at the same time the information might not be reliable. To overcome these risks efforts are required within the fields of technology developments for making web sites more reliable and improvement of the health culture of patients, as well. Our research identified the most significant barriers of doctor-patient communication including limited time, the patients’ distress, inadequate health culture and prior knowledge, as well as poor communication skills of some clinicians. Technology might help clinicians to use their limited time more effectively. In the long term, innovative technology solutions might take over some tasks of the health care personnel if they provide reliable health information adapted to the patient’s health, emotional and psychosocial status. Barriers of access to the new technology should be identified and addressed otherwise it would increase the already existing knowledge gap between patients and doctors.