PurposeAlong with technology-based ecosystems, healthcare start-ups are expanding multi-fold. On the other hand, underlying uncertainties pose several challenges for these health-tech enterprises at ...macro-meso-micro level, influencing their business circumstances and profitability. The current study aims to comprehend the macro-, meso- and micro-level barriers that make it difficult for enterprises to set up healthcare technology start-ups. The study also observed the perceived effect of these challenges on firms' performance and cost structure over time. Using the theory of behaviour under uncertainty, the study revealed multiple systemic, sector-related, human and implementation barriers that hinder business growth and lead to uncertainties for health-tech start-ups.Design/methodology/approachUsing a grounded theory approach, the study collected the views of 51 health tech start-ups in the UK using an online participants pool. The data was collected using qualitative data techniques in the form of open-ended essays, and a content analysis using thematic coding process was conducted. The questions centered around the different institutional uncertainties or barriers while setting up or running a healthcare start-up.FindingsThe study revealed several macro-, meso- and micro-level barriers these technology-based enterprises perceive in the healthcare industry. These are recognised as systemic barriers, such as lack of funding and procedural issues; sector-related barriers, such as market-related impediments; human barriers, including psychological barriers and resistance to new technology; and implementation barriers, such as operational and personnel issues.Research limitations/implicationsThe study used qualitative, open-ended essay techniques to collect the data. Future studies may use a mixed-methods approach to provide holistic insights. The study is conducted in a single developed country, the UK. Future work may expand these findings by comparing developed market challenges with those of emerging markets and by assessing the viewpoints of healthcare start-ups.Practical implicationsThis research will assist the healthcare sector and government understand health tech start-up hurdles and uncertainty. Policymakers must assist start-ups and encourage entrepreneurial innovation. Regulating and enabling policies will help. The paper examines start-ups' macro, meso and micro uncertainties. Policymakers promoting sector entrepreneurship must consider these barriers while designing policy guidelines.Originality/valueThe study contributes to the existing literature on technology start-ups, particularly in the healthcare industry, and identifies significant barriers these start-ups face. The study synthesizes research on health-tech start-up uncertainty and bridges the gap between theory and practice by applying empirical findings.
A lattice Boltzmann study of reactive microflows Gabrielli, A.; Succi, S.; Kaxiras, E.
Computer physics communications,
08/2002, Letnik:
147, Številka:
1
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Recenzirano
The role of geometrical micro-barriers for the conversion efficiency of reactive flows in narrow three-dimensional channels of millimetric size is investigated. Using a lattice Boltzmann–Lax–Wendroff ...code, we show that micro-barriers have an appreciable effect on the effective reaction efficiency of the device. If extrapolated to macroscopic scales, these effects can result in a sizeable increase of the overall reaction efficiency.
ObjectiveTo explore the feasibility of breeding cleaning degree mice with micro-barrier cages in conventional environmental facilities.MethodsClean-grade mice were housed and maintained in ...positive-pressure microbarrier cages in a general environment, during which third-party sampling of the microbial status of the animals in the microbarrier was performed on a quarterly frequency.ResultsFrom June 2020 to July 2022, no microorganisms that must be excluded by the national standard for cleaning degree mice have been detected in two consecutive years.ConclusionMicro-barrier cages can be used to raise and maintain cleaning grade mice in conventional environmental facilities.
Digital microfluidic platforms have been extensively studied in biology. However, achieving efficient mixing of macromolecules in microscale, low Reynolds number fluids remains a major challenge. To ...address this challenge, this study presents a novel design solution based on dielectric electro-wetting (EWOD) by optimizing the geometry of the transport electrode. The new design integrates micro-barriers on the electrodes to generate vortex currents that promote mixing during droplet transport. This design solution requires only two activation signals, minimizing the number of pins required. The mixing performance of the new design was evaluated by analyzing the degree of mixing inside the droplet and quantifying the motion of the internal particles. In addition, the rapid mixing capability of the new platform was demonstrated by successfully mixing the sorbitol solution with the detection solution and detecting the resulting reaction products. The experimental results show that the transfer electrode with a micro-barrier enables rapid mixing of liquids with a six-fold increase in mixing efficiency, making it ideal for the development of EWOD devices.
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