Successful PhD Thesis Defence

The student STEFAN LAZAREVSKI, enrolled in the study programme Innovation and Sustainable Business Management in Digital Society, successfully defended his doctoral thesis entitled Opportunities and Challenges of Public-Private Partnerships in the Integration of Infrastructural Technological Innovations in Healthcare on Monday, 10 November 2025. The dissertation was prepared under the mentorship of Prof. Dr Valentina Prevolnik Rupel.

The doctoral dissertation examines how public-private partnerships (PPPs) can foster innovation in healthcare, shifting the focus from the traditional “value for money” towards transformative improvement. It explores how PPPs accelerate innovation, what opportunities and challenges arise in the process, and what impacts they have on hospital infrastructure—both physical (facilities, equipment) and digital (digitalisation, artificial intelligence)—as well as on patient treatment and the development of healthcare staff skills.

The research combines a literature review with semi-structured interviews involving public and private experts and healthcare professionals with experience from various regions.

The findings indicate a generally positive impact of PPPs on innovation. For the public sector, the key opportunity lies in improved operational efficiency, while private partners benefit from additional revenue and learning opportunities. The main challenges include fair distribution of risks and benefits, adequate governance, and aligning expectations. PPPs contribute to the modernisation of infrastructure and equipment, as well as to technological improvements through digital tools and AI solutions. Innovations are also linked to better patient care—provided that the PPP is properly designed.

The dissertation offers practical guidelines for policymakers and strategies adaptable to regional contexts and suggests further research in the areas of prevention, research and development, and other aspects of healthcare provision.

Sincere congratulations to the new Doctor of Science!

In the first photo, from left to right: Prof. Dr Valentina Prevolnik Rupel (mentor), Dr Stefan Lazarevski (graduate – doctor), Assist. Prof. Dr Ana Hafner (committee member).

The candidate during the defence