Health Care

The Medical cluster fosters collaboration between Swiss and Ukrainian institutions in the fields of medical care and innovation. It brings together key players from academia, the healthcare sector, medical technology and pharmaceutical industries, research institutions, and hospital and healing architecture.

As the war in Ukraine continues, the demand for comprehensive and accessible healthcare services—particularly in prosthetics and rehabilitation—has become increasingly urgent. Switzerland, renowned for its expertise in medical innovation and humanitarian efforts, is well-positioned to play a crucial role in addressing the needs of war-affected people in Ukraine.

ETH Zurich, one of the world’s leading universities in science and technology, has been at the forefront of groundbreaking research in prosthetics. The cluster’s coordination work could facilitate the practical application of existing ETH prosthetic prototypes in Ukrainian rehabilitation centres, where numerous veterans, civilians, and children are undergoing treatment for war-related injuries.

Collaborative research with Ukrainian polytechnic universities could also enable the transfer of technological expertise, paving the way for local production of advanced prosthetics. This initiative may have a tangible impact on those in need, while also fostering the development of spin-off companies and technology transfer initiatives to bring these innovations to the global market.

This cluster also focuses on optimizing capacity-building processes, scenario development, and the gradual introduction of a tailored and sustainable healthcare system with interconnected infrastructures in Ukraine. In this work, an emphasis is placed on knowledge transfer and the collection of donations, including medical supplies.

Serving as a neutral, well-coordinated service point, this facet of the cluster’s work facilitates the implementation of large-scale projects, such as healthcare system planning for specific regions in Ukraine, alongside training programs for professionals managing these systems. In the future, the cluster may serve as an implementation partner for NGOs who wish to allocate funds for medical reconstruction and capacity building projects.

Partners
Unbroken National Rehabilitation Centre
Science Park of Additive Technologies, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”

Members and Contact

Dr. Olena Chernezhenko, olena.chernezhenko@hfh.ch
Tobias Hossfeld, Head of Business Development, Burckhardt Architektur AG, +41 61 338 34 14, tobias.hossfeld@burckhardt.swiss
Nickl & Partners Nickl & Partner Architekten Munich

Image: Nickl & Partner Architekten / WWH - Worldwide Hospitals