The Government of Catalonia renews its recognition of the Tecsam Network, a mental health research and innovation initiative
- The ecosystem, led by Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, has 14 new members and has grown by 28%
- In this new stage, in addition to the research groups, 29 leading organisations and individual members will also take part.
The Network for Innovation of New Technologies in Mental Health (TECSAM Network) has again earned the support of the Government of Catalonia with the aim of promoting innovation and transfer. Created in 2020 by Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu, within the Sant Joan de Déu Research Institute (IRSJD), the TECSAM Network once again receives the support of the Government of Catalonia's Ministry of Research and Universities, through the Agency for the Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR), for a period of three years, with a budget of one million euros.
The work and activity programme proposed by the TECSAM Network has obtained 9.54 out of 10, the second-best score, in the AGAUR evaluation, confirming the consolidation of the ecosystem as a benchmark in the region and indicating the maturity of its programme and activities.
In this new stage, the Network has grown, with 14 new members, an increase of 28%. The ecosystem is formed by a total of 63 research groups belonging to 25 leading institutions in Catalonia. As a new feature, the Network now includes 29 leading organisations linked to the promotion of mental health: innovation hubs, clusters, business associations, accelerators, public bodies, individual associations, federations, cooperatives, spin-offs and companies.
The four strategic pillars of the Network
The Network promotes innovation and transfer in order to create social and economic impact based on four pillars:
- The acceleration and promotion of transfer through investment forums and other spaces for collaboration that connect research groups with society and the business community. In this way, access to new therapeutic and technological solutions is facilitated with the aim of applying them to clinical practice.
- Co-creation and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in order to generate levers of social impact and promote people's well-being.
- Fostering talent and training among researchers and innovators.
- Promote internationalisation.
These four pillars allow the Network to pursue its ultimate goal of preventing mental problems and promoting people's mental health and emotional well-being, improving the quality of life of people with mental disorders, with special attention to the most vulnerable groups.
Over 400 solutions for mental health challenges
The Network's portfolio comprises over 400 solutions to mental health challenges. The Network thus brings together solutions and expertise in very diverse areas of innovation and research into mental health: from preventive treatment in the impact and incidence of the most common mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, to solutions focusing on problems such as schizophrenia and psychosis, or those associated with neurodevelopment.
It offers a wide range of solutions: from more traditional approaches and therapies to emerging therapeutic solutions, linked to artificial intelligence, virtual reality and digital platforms.
