'UC Innovation Project Competition by ULS Coimbra' aims to improve healthcare services
Organised by the University of Coimbra in partnership with the Coimbra Local Health Unit (ULS), the initiative will award €20,000 in funding to each of the three winning projects.
'TeleRehab-CP', 'Bio-Mind' and 'HESGIS' are the three winning projects of the first edition of the "UC Innovation Project Competition by ULS Coimbra". The initiative, organised by the University of Coimbra (UC) through the UC Business - Technology Transfer Division, in partnership with the Coimbra Local Health Unit (ULS), awards €20,000 to each of the winning projects.
"It is strategic for the University of Coimbra to value scientific and technological knowledge. That's why UC has an active policy to support and promote knowledge transfer," explains Gabriela Fernandes, UC Pro-Rector for Entrepreneurship. This competition promotes projects developed in "scientific areas where the relationship between ULS Coimbra and UC can be strengthened", namely data science, industrial engineering and management, and robotics.
Fernandes points out that this first edition received eight "high-quality" applications. For those who didn't win a prize, she urges them to "persevere" and look for "alternatives to bring their ideas to the market".
The "UC Innovation Project Competition by ULS de Coimbra" is the result of a protocol signed three months ago, which for Alexandre Lourenço, President of the Board of Directors of ULS Coimbra, represents "the fruition of a common vision based on the belief that innovation, science and technology can and should serve the health and well-being of people".
For Alexandre Lourenço, UC and ULS Coimbra are following a "path of innovation and progress". The partnership signed this year is "a commitment to the future, where science and health go hand in hand, where challenges are seen as opportunities, and where our community is strengthened by solutions that really make a difference".
The Rector of the University of Coimbra, Amílcar Falcão, recalls "UC's strong commitment to health", the field of knowledge with the highest productivity rate. "Our institution knows how to find its way and is focused on social responsibility and the population's well-being," he adds.
Winning Projects:
TeleRehab-CP: A Computer Vision-Based Telemonitoring System for Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation
The "Computer Vision-Based Telemonitoring System for Cardio-Pulmonary Rehabilitation" (TeleRehab-CP) is an innovative solution that employs artificial intelligence (AI) and computer vision to assist patients in remote cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programmes, all from the comfort of their own homes. This system addresses the challenges of accessibility and continuity of post-hospital care, particularly in areas with limited resources.
Bio-Mind: This biomarker-based predictive tool is designed to streamline the diagnostic process in neurology consultations by serving as a first-line screening tool, referring patients to specialised dementia clinics only when necessary. By integrating peripheral blood biomarkers, brief neuropsychological assessments, and demographic data, the tool offers a minimally invasive and efficient method for early risk assessment of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in patients with cognitive complaints.
HESGIS: The project proposes the pioneering implementation of an ESG management solution in a hospital environment, adapting the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS) to the specific healthcare context. The platform simplifies the complexity of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) into an accessible, efficient, and targeted process by integrating data science, artificial intelligence, and software engineering. EXO, a spin-off from the University of Coimbra, is establishing an innovative technology transfer model that directly benefits the local community.