Conflicts and complexities around intellectual property and value sharing of artificial intelligence healthcare solutions in public-private partnerships: A qualitative study

Background

Public healthcare systems are increasingly relying on artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to meet growing healthcare needs. Because AI technologies are complex and costly to develop, public-private partnerships (PPPs) between digital companies and university hospital centres are being promoted as a key for the successful development and implementation of AI solutions. This article aims to shed light on stakeholders’ perspectives on the intellectual property (IP) and value sharing of AI technologies developed by PPPs and how their practical experiences can affect the success or failure of such PPPs.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 29 stakeholders concerned with and/or involved in digital health technologies in a large Canadian university hospital centre. Data were collected and analysed through a mixed deductive-inductive approach.

Results

The analysis revealed three key themes highlighting AI IP issues of concern for PPP stakeholders. First, the collaborations and contributions required from all stakeholders to develop AI technologies of clinical and commercial value are highly complex and often unclear. Second, the lack of institutional and commercial recognition of clinicians’ essential contributions to AI solution development results in competing academic and business imperatives that hinder their engagement in PPPs. Finally, public healthcare systems’ strategic use of AI requires new policies adapted to the digital economy where IP plays a central role in value generation and sharing.

Conclusion

For PPPs developing AI healthcare technologies to be successful, updated policies clarifying public healthcare systems’ strategic use of AI are required as well as clear value-sharing frameworks between stakeholders.