Between september 25-27, 2024, representatives of the Digital Innovation Zone (EDIH-DIZ) participated in the study visit organized by the European Digital Innovation Hub for Smart Health: Precision Medicine and Innovative E-health Services (smartHEALTH) at the campus of the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) in Heraklion, Greece. This visit was an opportunity to exchange knowledge and best practices in digital health, medical innovation, and the use of advanced technologies to improve health services.
About the Event
Day 1: Exploring the FORTH ecosystem and the smartHEALTH initiative
The first day of the event began with the opening session and an introduction to the FORTH ecosystem, led by Dimitrios Plexousakis,, Vice President of the Board of Directors and Director of the Institute of Computer Science at FORTH.
EDIH-DIZ representatives had the opportunity to present their work through a series of brief speeches and engage in an interactive exchange of ideas with other experts and leaders of European digital hubs.
A key moment of the day was the presentation by the smartHEALTH project manager, Dimitrios Filippidis, who provided a comprehensive overview of innovation support services and e-health solutions developed with the help of the hub.
Other sessions of interest included the presentation of CeHA (Center for eHealth Applications and Services) by Dimitrios Katehakis, as well as the discussion on funding opportunities and support services provided by smartHEALTH, led by Iraklis Karantonis from PRAXI Network.
The study visit also included tours of key facilities and laboratories supporting health innovation:
- The Laboratory of Biophotonics and Molecular Imaging (LBMI)
- Facilities of the Hybrid Molecular Imaging Unit (HMIU)
- The Ambient Intelligence Program (AmI)
Day 2: EDIH and company presentations
The second day of the visit featured a series of presentations by companies and digital hubs, offering a vital platform for networking and collaboration among participants. EDIH-DIZ representatives showcased innovation and digitalization support services specifically designed for the health sector:
- DiGiNN: Unleashing Digital Innovation – Success Stories and Best Practices
Dr. Katerina Loizou, DiGiNN Project Manager - INNDIH presentation & Digital Health at IBV
Ms. Cristina Herrera, M.D. / Úrsula Martínez, PhD., InnDIH - EDIH Trakia – To bridge the Cybersecurity divide in the EU
Denis Petkov, Senior expert, EDIH Trakia - Services of the DIGI2Health
Bc. Jakub Havlín, project manager, DIGI2Health
A significant moment for the beneficiaries of EDIH-DIZ services was the presentations by the companies Apollo AI Technologies and Dr-Online.
- Apollo AI Technologies provides medical professionals with fast, secure, and precise access to critical information through advanced artificial intelligence-powered chatbots, aiming to reduce time waste, ensure data confidentiality, and improve patient safety.
- Dr-Online is a platform that facilitates interactions between doctors and patients through online consultations, appointment management, prescription issuance, and reports, all in a secure and customizable environment, offering flexibility, efficiency, and comfort.
EDIH-DIZ’s participation in this study visit was an important opportunity to explore new technologies and innovations that can be implemented and adapted in the Romanian context. Collaboration between various European hubs in the EDIH network and the exchange of best practices are essential to stimulate digital transformation in healthcare and improve the quality of services offered to patients.
