Focusing on Innovation during the smartHEALTH Study Visit (September 25-27, 2024)
The smartHEALTH Study Visit, held from September 25-27, 2024, at the FORTH Campus in Heraklion, Greece, was an exciting and impactful event. Organized by the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) smartHEALTH, the visit brought together EDIHs from across Europe, FORTH’s leading researchers, and innovative companies of the local ecosystem, fostering mutual learning across multiple sectors. Through targeted presentations, face-to-face interactions and in-depth discussions, participants had the opportunity to share experiences and exchange good practices with regards to EDIH activities, while gaining valuable insights into FORTH’s leading research advancements and state-of-the-art infrastructure, as well as innovative solutions and products from the industry.
Key Highlights:
Exploration of the FORTH Ecosystem: Participants gained valuable insights into one of Europe’s leading research centres, its main technological advancements and infrastructure.
EDIHs exchange of good practices: Five EDIHs from across Europe (DiGiNN – Cyprus, InnDIH – Spain, EDIH Trakia – Bulgaria, DIGI2Health – Czech Republic, and Digital Innovation Zone – Romania), hosted by smartHEALTH had the opportunity to showcase their best practices and success stories, and explore ways for further cooperation.
Key Presentations: The event featured a range of insightful presentations from experts. Prof. Dimitrios Plexousakis, Director of ICS-FORTH & smartHEALTH coordinator, introduced FORTH, the Institute of Computer Science and its research labs. Dimitris Filippidis, smartHEALTH Project Manager, presented the Hub’s goals, services, achievements, and success stories. Costas Karamanis, Digital Transformation Manager, provided further insights into the client journey and daily operations of the Hub. Dimitrios Katehakis, Head of the Centre for e-Health Applications and Services, discussed the Center’s history, products, and hospital applications. George Dimitriou, Cluster Manager of the Hellenic Digital Health Cluster, shared the Cluster’s vision and its impact on digital health in Greece, while Dr. Angelina Kouroubali, Collaborating Researcher at ICS-FORTH highlighted Crete’s role in promoting healthy and active ageing policy. Iraklis Karantonis, Technology Transfer Consultant at PRAXI Network, emphasized how smartHEALTH can provide guidance to startups, SMEs, and other organizations in accessing funding, driving innovation, and scaling their solutions. Dr. George Papamichail, Director of the Science and Technology Park of Crete (STEP-C) presented the main Incubation and Acceleration Services offered to start-ups and spin-offs. At the same time, a number of innovative companies, showcased their products and solutions, while FORTH experts showcased their research interests and shared their experiences from service provision in the context of smartHEALTH.
Engaging Lab Visits & Demos: Participants had the opportunity to explore FORTH’s cutting-edge facilities and witness live demonstrations of innovative technologies. These sessions highlighted the diverse applications of advanced tools and solutions across various industries, offering participants practical insights into various emerging technologies.
Networking & Collaboration: During the two day study visit, FORTH researchers, EDIH representatives, and industry leaders connected and shared insights, fostering cross-border collaboration and knowledge exchange.
BONUS: Participants had the opportunity to join the Researchers’ Night, where FORTH labs showcased their research to the public, celebrating innovation and discovery.
