Catharina Borgenstierna

New chairman of the Council for Welfare Technology

Healthtech
Catharina Borgenstierna, CEO of Camanio Care, co-chairs the Council for Welfare Technology with Ylva Hennig, CEO of Cambio Healthcare. With extensive experience in the medtech industry, Catharina Borgenstierna wants to highlight the importance of companies working broadly to improve conditions for the entire sector. 

Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
- I have a background in medtech and have worked for many years at Siemens and Getinge with international commercialization of medical technologies. Since 2011, I have been working with smaller companies, researchers and innovators to support the commercialization of healthcare innovations in various ways," says Catharina Borgenstierna and continues:

- My first contact with welfare technology and care came when I started working with a product called Bestic (works as an advanced eating aid for people who are fed today) and it dawned on me what a big market and area welfare technology actually is. Since 2016, I have worked as CEO of Camanio, which is actually a combination of four different innovation companies in welfare technology. Today, I am also an ambassador in Sweden for the international AgeTech movement Aging2.0 where we drive innovation and international collaboration.

How did you become interested in welfare technology issues?
- I became interested because I saw that there was a huge need for assistive technology in care, where welfare technology in particular is used. Unfortunately, care is very far behind medical care, where technology has been around for over a hundred years. At the same time, more and more health and social care is moving into our private homes and there is a need for a comprehensive picture for people who need support from both municipalities and regions. The care sector needs to strengthen its skills, its demand for technology and the status of its professionals. There is much to be done to improve the lives of older people in care.

Why are you involved in the Council for Welfare Technology?
- I want to be involved in driving important issues for the industry and work for stronger cooperation between companies, authorities, academia, care organizations and seniors. It is important that companies get involved and work broadly to improve the conditions for the entire industry because the need is so enormous. We as entrepreneurs actually have a lot to contribute.

What issues do you think will be in continued focus in 2022?
- After discussions within the Council, we have come up with a reform agenda that extends to 2026. There are four major focus areas that we will pursue in different ways: infrastructure (hard and soft), data, skills and more efficient implementation. In 2022, we will carry out various activities in these areas that highlight the issues and concretize various proposals.