Croatia Will Become the European Hub for Digital Innovations in Healthcare

'Artificial Intelligence for Smart Healthcare and Medicine' is the name of the project that has been highly rated by the European Commission as part of the Digital Europe program, and it is the AI4Health.Cro project that will apparently be implemented by the Ruđer Bošković Institute (IRB) in collaboration with partners from science, medicine, industry, and the public sector.

According to the statement, AI4HEALTH.Cro is a non-profit public-private consortium that sees artificial intelligence as key to advancing healthcare and as a catalyst for leading Europe into a healthier future. It relies on the expertise of project partners in developing biomedical innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence and HPC, as well as a full range of services from entrepreneurial incubators, including writing project proposals, project management, access to funding programs, all through strong collaboration with similar initiatives and consortiums across Europe.

– I would like to thank the entire consortium and all partners with whom we have worked diligently to prepare this project. The high evaluation scores (14 out of a possible 15 points, ed.) awarded to the project by experts from the European Commission confirm that we have done a good job, but also represent great news for the entire Croatian digital, healthcare, and innovation ecosystem. Above all, it brings opportunities for all those innovators who have ready solutions or are currently developing them and need assistance in developing their technology from the testing phase to market launch – explains Anja Barešić, partner coordinator from IRB.

Artificial Intelligence, Startups, and the Future of EU Healthcare

We are witnessing the rapid development of technologies, and alongside technology, medicine is also evolving. While the application of artificial intelligence in biomedical sciences keeps pace with this development, when it comes to implementation, the entry of artificial intelligence and the application of HPC solutions in the healthcare sector are not keeping up with these growing trends. 

– Our population is aging, the statistics on chronic diseases are worsening, we are facing staff shortages and long waiting lists. Year after year, all these problems increasingly burden the healthcare system, generating the need for the faster application of artificial intelligence that offers the possibility of effective and successful solutions for both patients and professionals – emphasized Nina Šesto, assistant director of Magdalena Clinic and project coordinator for healthcare, adding that healthcare systems in the European Union are facing a lack of access to smart digital solutions based on artificial intelligence, which could successfully address these issues.

– Technology companies, innovators, and startups offer technologies and potential solutions, and it is up to the AI4HEALTH.Cro hub to facilitate the efficient transfer of these solutions into healthcare and medical practice – states Milly Doolan, a member of the core coordination team from EuroNavigator, who is responsible for dissemination and networking in the AI4HEALTH.Cro project.  

– Our role is multifaceted. Together with partners, we will establish a kind of hub for the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare where we will be able to screen candidates, allowing them to test their technology before making larger investments. This includes various assessments and simulations of the innovation and digital maturity of technology, support in developing and adapting technology to user needs, and ultimately, assistance with technology transfer. We can do this because we have a consortium that brings together partners from the private and public sectors, from technology companies, innovation centers, entrepreneurs, health centers, to clinics and decision-makers – concludes Anja Barešić.

In addition to IRB, which is the project leader, the project partners are: Croatian Association for Artificial Intelligence (CroAI), Magdalena – Clinic for Cardiovascular Diseases, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, Health Center Zagreb – Center, Croatian Institute of Public Health, Croatian Health Insurance Institute, University of Split – Medical Faculty, University of Rijeka – Faculty of Engineering, Zagreb Innovation Center, Employers’ Association in Healthcare of Croatia, Knowledge Network, FeelsGood Capital Partners, and successful companies IN2, Ericsson Nikola Tesla, and NEWTON Technologies Adria. 

All project partners agree that 'Croatia now has a unique opportunity to position itself among the leaders in the transformation of European healthcare systems with the help of artificial intelligence'.