The Basque Foundation for Health Innovation and Research (BIOEF, from the Basque Berrikuntza + Ikerketa + Osasuna Eusko Fundazioa), set up by the Department of Health of the Government of the Basque Country, is an instrument to support the health authorities of the Basque Country. Its mission is to promote innovation and research in the Basque Health Service, Osakidetza, to achieve continuous development and improvement in the capacity of the service to care for the health of the people in the region. In particular, to enable it to fulfil its mission, the Foundation seeks to provide a framework for collaboration, cooperation and communication between the sectors involved in health research, development and innovation at regional, national and international levels. The work of the Foundation is carried out through two institutes:
The Institute of Health Research (o+iker) is responsible for the activities of the Foundation that are most directly related to biomedical research. Its role is to support the development of research to a standard as high as the healthcare provided, that is, striving for excellence. It promotes research, helping researchers obtain funding and assisting with the management of projects, as well as orienting research towards the strategic priorities of the health service.
The Institute of Health Innovation (o+berri) seeks to be a platform for continuous innovation in the health service, promoting excellence and committed to maintaining progressive redesign, both of organisational systems and of management instruments. The Institute encourages discussion, the anticipation of trends, changes and new demands, and forward planning to benefit both people living in the Basque Country and the system itself, since its work reinforces the reputation and prestige of the Basque Health Service.