On May 6, 2025, the SHIFT-HUB Innovation Day brought together innovators, researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in Bucharest, Romania, and online to explore innovative solutions in the smart health sector.
Organised by SHIFT-HUB partners COPAC (Coalition of Patients Organizations with Chronic Diseases) and BEIA, in collaboration with the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” Bucharest, UEFSCIDI – UNITE project and Iceberg+, the event aimed to foster collaboration and highlight transformative technologies addressing key healthcare challenges.
Opening Insights: Setting the Stage for Innovation
The day began with inspiring opening remarks from Professor Viorel Jinga, Rector of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Carol Davila” in Bucharest, and Luminita Valcea, Executive Director of COPAC. Both emphasized the importance of fostering innovation to enhance patient care and health equity.
Then Alena Bubeck, SHIFT-HUB Coordinator from Steinbeis Europa Zentrum, provided an overview of the project’s goals, service portfolio, and achievements, setting the tone for a vibrant day of discussions and demonstrations.
Showcasing Start-Up Excellence
A highlight of the event was the Start-Up Pitch Session, where innovative health-tech start-ups presented their solutions ranging from digital platforms for personalised care to AI-powered diagnostic tools.
Tackling Innovation Challenges in Health
The UNITE – SHIFT-HUB Workshop delved into pressing challenges in healthcare innovation. Key topics included:
- Deep-tech innovations for promoting health equity.
- Digital innovations for personalised and remote patient-centred care.
- Strategies for advancing the European Health Data Space.
- Digital solutions addressing the healthcare workforce crisis.
The workshop fostered engaging discussions, highlighting the need for cross-sector collaboration to translate these innovations into impactful solutions.
Living Lab Demonstrations: Bridging Technology and Practice
CardiOnline App monitors patients and their interaction with the medical team. Activity levels, sleep quality, and vital signs (heart rate frequency and regularity, oxygen saturation) are tracked via a smartwatch.
SymptoChat is a cutting-edge health management platform designed to deliver a highly accurate experience. Powered by an advanced diagnostic API, SymptoChat provides users with personalized symptom analysis, actionable health insights, and recommendations on when to seek medical care. Key features include a unique memory system that tracks health trends over time, precise image analysis for visible conditions
EmoMonitor is a system intended for both medical specialists (psychologists, doctors, therapists) and patients, adapting to their needs through a personalized and multidimensional approach. It integrates advanced technologies of artificial intelligence, IoT, facial recognition, voice analysis, providing a complete picture of the emotional state of users.
ELDIE – Virtual Friend for Seniors slows down mental deterioration among seniors using AI, scientifically proven mental games and quizzes. It helps middle-aged adults keep track of the evolution of seniors.
ONCOSCREEN develops non-invasive technologies for early colorectal cancer detection, including ONCO- VOC, an AI-powered breath analyser that detects specific VOC patterns in exhaled breath, alongside other innovative screening tools, as well as the CAWA and NELI mobile applications, which facilitate data collection, risk assessment, and citizen engagement to improve screening accessibility and awareness.
The SHIFT-HUB Innovation Day highlighted the transformative potential of smart health solutions in addressing pressing healthcare challenges. By fostering collaboration between start-ups, researchers, and practitioners, the event underscored the importance of building a robust ecosystem to support innovation in healthcare.
For more information about our SHIFT-HUB Services and events, please visit our Services section here.
