Value propositions (VPs) can serve as critical catalysts for accelerating translational research and improving collaboration within the Science of Team Science (SciTS). Although VPs are widely recognized in business and product development, a consistent definition and standardized framework for diagnostic technologies have remained elusive. To address this gap, we undertook a targeted narrative review of the available literature and conducted a series of cross-disciplinary discussions, guided by SciTS principles, to synthesize a more robust, team-driven understanding of VPs in diagnostics.

Our work revealed three central challenges in formulating effective VPs: insufficient clarity around unmet needs, limited integration of multiple stakeholder perspectives, and difficulty articulating tangible and intangible benefits to end-users. Drawing upon frameworks such as the UK’s Health Technology Navigation Pathway, we illustrate how early and thorough identification of unmet needs is vital for shaping a clear and dynamic VP. Moreover, we found that emphasizing multifaceted stakeholder engagement—including clinicians, patients, industry, payers, and policymakers—is essential in capturing the economic, operational, and clinical value that diagnostics can deliver across the care pathway.

By applying secondary analysis of publicly available survey data from the UK's healthcare associates, as well as reflective analyses of our cross-disciplinary co-author team, we demonstrated how collaborative practices drive a more nuanced appreciation of what constitutes “value.” Participants highlighted the importance of aligning diagnostic innovation not only with clinical efficacy but also with patient-centeredness, workflow integration, data privacy, and environmental sustainability. This team-based method aligns closely with SciTS principles, wherein knowledge-sharing, role clarity, and mutual respect optimize collective outcomes.

From these insights, we propose an enhanced definition of a VP for diagnostic technologies: a dynamic, evidence-based statement that addresses unmet needs, clearly articulates the pathways to clinical benefit and system efficiency, and remains adaptable to evolving healthcare contexts. We also recommend a set of actionable steps—ranging from employing team science best practices to adopting implementation science frameworks—that can accelerate VP development and reduce barriers to adoption. In doing so, we illuminate how iterative reflective feedback, psychometric rigor, and strong cross-disciplinary stakeholder partnerships are indispensable to realizing a technology’s full potential.

In conclusion, this work highlights that the process of crafting a compelling VP is itself a team science endeavour. The collective intelligence of researchers, practitioners, patients, and industry experts is required to successfully conceptualize and convey how a diagnostic innovation can improve care delivery, patient outcomes, and resource stewardship. By uniting these perspectives early and often, teams can incubate and accelerate diagnostics toward meaningful impact at both local and system-wide levels.