Hive virtual community to foster health innovation

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Web 2.0 platform commissioned by the Ministry of Health

By Computerworld staff | Auckland | Friday, 2 October, 2009

A new health collaboration portal has been launched to help health professionals, researchers and technologists to collaborate and comment on industry innovation.

The Health Innovation Exchange (Hive) is the brainchild of Malcom Pollock, director of the National Institute for Health Innovation, and Dr Chris Paton, who say innovation is critical to the health sector but its impact will be diluted if it is occuring in isolation.

"There are ground breaking ideas, research and projects happening in New Zealand, and beyond, but how much more powerful might they be if experience was shared and there was the opportunity for robust debate, dialogue and collaboration?" asks Pollock.

Billed as a "Web 2.0 platform", Hive has no commercial intent, its founders say.

"We’re using technology to recognise innovative thinking and projects within the health sector,’ says research fellow Paton. "This is the place for health innovators to share their ideas, experiences, initiatives, and aspirations in an open, non commercial environment."

The site uses open source content management and community building tools and was commissioned by the Ministry of Health.