Heyo K. Kroemer

"On November 17 and 18, 2022, the interprofessional workshop ‘Innovation/Translation’ took place at the offices of the innovation consultancy zer0360. Moderated by the agency, 28 participants from various teams, departments and clinics of the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Berlin Institute of Health @ Charité (BIH) gathered over the two days to discuss the topic of innovation management in healthcare and research. The workshop was accompanied by two external international experts who shared their experiences with the implementation of innovation management in other university hospitals.

At the beginning of the workshop, the CEO, Prof. Kroemer, the chief medical officer, Prof. Kreis, and the head of the BIH, Prof. Baum, gave introductory presentations regarding the new strategic direction and focus on innovation. They explained the importance of innovation to address various challenges, emphasizing the need to understand innovation management as a holistic process and integrate it into all departments and units of Charité.

Various methods were applied during the workshop to provide participants with the opportunity to contribute different perspectives and collaborate on solutions. In addition to group work, the fishbowl method was used, where a smaller group of participants discussed in an inner circle while the remaining participants acted as listeners in the outer circle. These methods facilitated lively exchanges and the articulation of diverse experiences and perspectives. Furthermore, in small groups, fictional newspaper articles were written outlining different future visions of an "innovative Charité."

The external expert speakers significantly contributed to extending the understanding of innovation management and provided insights into successful approaches from other healthcare providers. Their presentations encouraged participants to think beyond the conventional and explore new possibilities for Charité.

Throughout the workshop, there was intensive work on exploring the potential, opportunities, and challenges for holistic innovation management at Charité. It became evident that Charité and BIH have already many resources and talents in place that can be utilized for innovative solutions. At the same time, obstacles were identified that impede the successful implementation of innovation management.

At the end of the workshop, recommendations and suggestions were gathered to establish and strengthen innovation management at Charité. These included promoting interdisciplinary collaborations, creating incentives for employees to contribute innovative Ideas, and optimizing the innovation support processes. Participants agreed that innovation management should have strategic priority and be integrated into the company culture. There are already important components in place, especially at ‘Charité BIH Innovation,’ that can be leveraged.

The results of the workshop were compiled and presented by the agency. They also served as the starting point for mapping all existing innovation initiatives, programs, and departments at Charité, BIH, and partner institutions.

The innovation workshop was a crucial step towards a holistic innovation management and an innovation strate at Charité. The unprecedented interaction among various stakeholders and the involvement of external experts contributed to creating a shared understanding of innovation activities and identifying and developing potentials within the organization. Moreover, the board had the opportunity to verbalize and emphasized the new strategic priority."