Box 1 Indicators of successful collaboration in health technology assessment (HTA) between hospitals and national HTA units, a priori defined for this study

Collaboration increases the use of HTA in clinical implementation and purchase decisions in hospitals

Collaboration enhances transparency of decision-making regarding the implementation and purchase of technologies in hospitals

Collaboration enhances patient safety

Collaboration increases patients’ and the public’s acceptance of technologies and access to them

Collaboration enhances equity in the society (equal access to treatments)

Collaboration promotes innovation and clinical research