In order to accelerate the implementation of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies in the healthcare system across Europe, a new project worth 7.8 million euros “VR Health Champions” has been launched.
The project is co-financed by the Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) instrument of the European Regional Development Fund and aims to reduce market, clinical and regulatory barriers in less developed regions and accelerate the development of VR/AR tools.
Eighteen partners from eight EU member states, organized into nine regional ecosystems, will join forces to provide targeted support to five leading small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting innovation in medical diagnostics, therapies and operations. This will simultaneously enable the growth of the European Healthcare Augmented Reality (XR) ecosystem. Latvia is also strongly represented in the project with the participation of the University of Latvia and the innovative start-up “Lightspace Technologies”.
It is predicted that by 2025, the value of the European VR/AR market will reach 35-65 billion euros, generating up to 40 billion euros in gross added value. The European VR/AR ecosystem, driven by start-ups and SMEs, is developing dynamically, especially in France, Germany, Nordics, Benelux, Spain and Italy. Healthcare, the fourth largest industry in the VR/AR market (11%), has huge potential to achieve advancements in medical examinations, diagnostics, surgical manipulation and therapy.
Although the use of XR technologies in healthcare in Europe is still in its infancy, especially in less developed regions, the opportunities are vast. The VR Health Champions project aims to reduce market, clinical and regulatory barriers to VR/AR applications in healthcare by focusing on five leading SMEs while creating directions for future innovation in the industry.
The total cost of the project is estimated at EUR 7.88 million, of which EUR 5.82 million is co-financed by the Interregional Investment Innovation Instrument (I3) of the European Regional Development Fund.
“By engaging additional SMEs through cascading funding, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and aligning innovation with patient and provider needs, we aim to bring XR technology to market faster and have a greater impact on patient care,” adds one of the project coordinators, EIT Health InnoStars. representative Pēteris Nagys (Peter Nagy), emphasizing the crucial importance of the partnership in promoting these achievements, in particular to reduce the technological gap between less innovative and more developed European regions.
“While artificial intelligence and XR ecosystems are expanding elsewhere, companies in Central, Eastern and Southern Europe are facing challenges such as limited awareness among healthcare professionals and a lack of skilled, talented professionals. With this project and in collaboration with partners from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Health of the EIT Health network of care knowledge and innovation communities, we want to level the playing field by offering targeted support and expertise.”
This initiative is driven by five innovative SMEs, including the Latvian start-up “Lightspace Technologies”, which develops revolutionary multifocal displays – unique and human-adapted 3D visualization hardware and supporting software to create customized XR solutions in the field of healthcare.
Roberts Zabels, Researcher and Technology Analyst of Lightspace Technologies, says about the startup “Lightspace Technologies”: “The startup “Lightspace” is here to shake up the healthcare industry. By developing the main technology promoting the development of the industry – human-centric XR glasses – many medical needs could be fulfilled right now the wishes of professionals. With VR Health Champions, we will perfect our solution, making multifocal XR optics available to everyone who needs a safe and comfortable XR experience.”
“In cooperation with companies, we, vision scientists and primary health care professionals, will promote the responsible implementation and use of display technologies in various fields, comprehensively evaluating how the human visual system reacts to innovative technologies,” adds Optometry and Vision Sciences of the Faculty of Exact Sciences and Technologies of the University of Latvia head of department Tatjana Plader.
As part of the program, other European companies are also developing VR and XR technologies that will contribute to the development of medical technology in healthcare, especially in the areas of mental and cognitive health, rehabilitation and medical training.
The Italian company “MEEVA” also operates in the initiative program, which introduces innovations in therapy for teenagers with neurological developmental disorders, using its “Zentastic” virtual reality platform. It combines exciting multiplayer games and machine learning-based biometric analysis to help therapists monitor stress levels and improve social skills.
Meanwhile, the Polish medical technology company “MedApp” has developed “CarnaLife Holo” – certified software classified as a medical device, which is used for pre-operative planning and surgical assistance using XR glasses. This software has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and CE marked. As part of “VR Health Champions”, “MedApp” will improve its “CarnaLife Holo MedNav” solution, which will allow real-time monitoring of surgical instruments in augmented reality.
“MedApp” will also cooperate with Latvian start-up “Lightspace” to develop a unique and convenient solution for surgical navigation and visualization of hidden anatomical features.
Another Polish startup, Metaskills, is a system aimed at developing managers’ cross-industry skills using virtual reality and generative artificial intelligence. As part of the VR Health Champions project, it provides training for healthcare professionals, including leadership skills for managers and feedback skills to improve communication with patients. The platform offers real-time interaction with 3D avatars, simulating authentic conversations and providing instant feedback, similar to meeting a professional trainer.
On the other hand, the Portuguese company “Virtuleap” develops virtual reality solutions for the assessment, training and monitoring of cognitive abilities. Their new product, Cogniclear VR, offers cognitive assessment in virtual reality based on neuropsychologically validated tests, and the VR Health Champions project will accelerate its testing and validation.
The project aims to fully unlock the potential of XR in healthcare, supported by a diverse network of healthcare units, research centers, universities and industry leaders from Italy, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, Germany and Spain. The main participants of the project are the companies “Klaster Life Science Krakow” and “Fondazione Bruno Kessler”, Łódź Medical University, Łódź University of Technology, University of Latvia and Coimbra Hospital and University Center.
The project is also supported by industry leaders such as “Medtronic Portugal” and “Medtronic Ibérica SA”, “Syreon Research Institute” and “RTE Lab”, as well as the European initiative “XR4Europe”. The project is coordinated by the non-profit private organization “Instituto Pedro Nunes” and co-coordinated by “EIT Health InnoStars”.
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VR Health Champions: A New Reality for Healthcare Innovation
Well, well, well! It looks like the European healthcare system is finally ready to embrace some of the coolest tech since they discovered how to suture without leaving that delightful “hospital smell.” Enter the VR Health Champions project, backed by a shiny €7.8 million investment to fast-track virtual and augmented reality technologies in healthcare across Europe. It’s like the Avengers but for your health—without the spandex, of course!
The funding is generously co-financed by the Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) instrument of the European Regional Development Fund.
Why VR/AR in Healthcare?
According to the experts—and by that, I mean people who actually wear lab coats—the VR/AR market in healthcare is projected to hit €35-65 billion by 2025. That’s not small change! We’re talking about a potential to whip up €40 billion in gross added value—all while we’re still trying to figure out how to get people to stop using their phones while in the waiting room.
Now, let’s break it down; we have eighteen partners from eight EU member states assembling in what resembles a romantic comedy but with fewer misunderstandings and more medical equipment. Together, they’re all set to assist five leading SMEs in promoting fresh blood—or should I say ideas?—into diagnostics, therapies, and operational practices.
The Lineup
The heavyweights here include the glitzy University of Latvia and the tech-savvy start-up Lightspace Technologies. Roberts Zabels of Lightspace claims they’re here to “shake up the healthcare industry.” Think of them like the energetic one at the party who always brings up blockchain when you’re just trying to enjoy a drink!
Now, if you’re wondering what these VR glasses do beyond making you look slightly like an insect, they’re focused on human-centric solutions that respond to the healthcare professional’s needs. So, you can finally live your dream of showing off your VR skills at a medical conference!
Who’s Jumping on the Bandwagon?
Other European buddies in the program include companies like the Italian MEEVA, which aims to help teenagers with neurological developmental disorders through its innovative Zentastic virtual reality platform—because nothing says “Cool kids” quite like neuro-therapy multiplayer games! Who knew therapy could be *fun*?
Meanwhile, Poland brings us MedApp, which has developed “CarnaLife Holo”—software so impressive that even the FDA approved it. So it’s like the Michelin Star of medical software; if it wasn’t on your radar, it definitely should be now!
And lest we forget Virtuleap, based in Portugal, showcasing the new Cogniclear VR—cognitive assessment in virtual reality. Nothing builds trust like evaluating your mental capabilities while wearing funky VR goggles!
Reducing Barriers to Entry
The goal is crystal clear: tackle the clinical and regulatory challenges to get XR technologies into the healthcare system faster. Think of it as giving a turbo boost to your grandfather’s ancient car—it might just help him get to the clinic before he starts reminiscing about the good old days of rotary phones.
Pēteris Nagys, the project coordinator from EIT Health InnoStars, stresses the importance of engaging more SMEs through cascading funding and cross-sector collaboration. It’s like a reality show, but instead of drama, we have innovation and teamwork. And far fewer roses are involved.
The Big Picture
While the use of XR technologies is still in its baby shoes, the European healthcare system is ripe for a revolution. It’s just a matter of time before VR becomes as common in hospitals as that one nurse who always misplaces her pen. With a diverse network spanning various countries and specialties, the potential here is staggering.
So, the next time you’re in a waiting room, don’t be surprised if you see a doctor swooping in with a VR headset, possibly just to escape the endless chatter about the weather. And who can blame him? Welcome to the future of healthcare—where the only thing more complex than your diagnosis is the technology used to figure it out!
A newly launched initiative, dubbed “VR Health Champions”, aims to significantly advance the integration of virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technologies in Europe’s healthcare sector, backed by a substantial budget of 7.8 million euros.
This ambitious project is co-financed by the Interregional Innovation Investment (I3) instrument of the European Regional Development Fund and aims to dismantle market, clinical, and regulatory obstacles particularly in underdeveloped regions, thereby accelerating the creation and adoption of cutting-edge VR/AR healthcare tools.
In total, eighteen collaborative partners from eight EU member states have united into nine regional ecosystems to lend specialized support to five pioneering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) focused on propelling innovations in medical diagnostics, therapies, and surgical procedures. This collaborative effort will bolster the growth of the European Healthcare Augmented Reality (XR) ecosystem. Noteworthy is Latvia’s strong representation through the involvement of the University of Latvia and the pioneering start-up “Lightspace Technologies”.
Market analysts project that by 2025, the European VR/AR sector will soar to valuations between 35 and 65 billion euros, generating an impressive 40 billion euros in gross added value. The European VR/AR landscape is rapidly evolving, primarily driven by start-ups and SMEs, with notable advances observed in countries like France, Germany, the Nordics, Benelux, Spain, and Italy. Within this booming market, healthcare stands out as the fourth largest sector, comprising an impressive 11%, indicating vast potential for breakthroughs in medical examinations, diagnostics, surgical techniques, and therapeutic practices.
Despite the relative nascence of XR technologies in Europe’s healthcare system, particularly in less advanced regions, the project emphasizes that substantial opportunities remain. The VR Health Champions initiative is particularly focused on mitigating market, clinical, and regulatory challenges for VR/AR applications in healthcare while concurrently laying the groundwork for future innovations in this ever-evolving industry.
A total of 7.88 million euros has been earmarked for this transformative project, of which 5.82 million euros is being co-financed by the Interregional Innovation Investment Instrument (I3) from the European Regional Development Fund.
Pēteris Nagys, a representative from EIT Health InnoStars, highlights the project’s goal: “By engaging additional SMEs through cascading funding, fostering cross-sector collaboration, and aligning innovation with patient and provider needs, we aim to bring XR technology to market faster and significantly enhance patient care.” He underscores the critical nature of this partnership in advancing achievements, especially in bridging the technological gap between regions of varying innovation levels across Europe.
The project also includes five innovative SMEs, featuring the Latvian start-up “Lightspace Technologies,” which is on the frontier of developing groundbreaking multifocal displays. These unique, human-centric 3D visualization technologies are designed to create tailored XR solutions in the healthcare domain.
Roberts Zabels, Researcher and Technology Analyst at Lightspace Technologies, comments on the startup’s mission: “The startup ‘Lightspace’ is here to revolutionize the healthcare sector. Our focus is on developing human-centric XR glasses that can fulfill many medical professionals’ needs. With the support of VR Health Champions, we will refine our technology, making multifocal XR optics accessible to all users seeking safe and comfortable experiences.”
In collaboration with various stakeholders, including companies and healthcare professionals, we, the vision scientists, aim to champion the responsible implementation of display technologies across different fields. We will closely assess the human visual system’s response to these advanced technologies,” states Tatjana Plader, Head of the Optometry and Vision Sciences Department at the University of Latvia.
In addition to Latvia, other European firms are engaged in advancing VR and XR technologies that are pivotal for evolving medical technology, particularly in areas such as mental health, cognitive rehabilitation, and medical training.
The Italian firm “MEEVA” is participating in this initiative, innovating therapy solutions for teenagers with neurological developmental disorders through its “Zentastic” virtual reality platform. This platform effectively blends engaging multiplayer gaming experiences with machine learning-augmented biometric analysis to assist therapists in monitoring stress levels and enhancing social competencies.
Polish medical technology company “MedApp” has made strides with “CarnaLife Holo,” a certified software classified as a medical device, designed for pre-operative planning and surgical assistance via XR glasses. This innovative software has been recognized by the US Food and Drug Administration and carries the CE mark. As part of the “VR Health Champions” initiative, “MedApp” is set to enhance its “CarnaLife Holo MedNav” solution, which offers real-time monitoring of surgical instruments in augmented reality.
Moreover, “MedApp” plans to collaborate with the Latvian start-up “Lightspace” to develop an innovative and user-friendly solution for surgical navigation, enhancing the visibility of concealed anatomical structures.
Additionally, the Polish startup Metaskills aims to elevate managerial skill sets across industries through VR and generative artificial intelligence. Through the VR Health Champions initiative, it offers training modules for healthcare professionals focused on leadership and improved communication skills with patients using realistic simulations and instant feedback mechanisms akin to professional coaching.
Portuguese enterprise “Virtuleap” is also developing virtual reality solutions designed to assess, train, and monitor cognitive abilities. Their latest product, Cogniclear VR, provides cognitive assessments in a virtual environment, supported by neuropsychologically validated tests, with the VR Health Champions project set to accelerate its testing and validation processes.
The overarching goal of the VR Health Champions project is to unlock the full potential of XR technologies in healthcare, supported by a diverse coalition of healthcare organizations, research institutions, universities, and industry leaders spanning Italy, Latvia, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, and Spain. Key participants in the project include “Klaster Life Science Krakow,” “Fondazione Bruno Kessler,” Łódź Medical University, Łódź University of Technology, University of Latvia, and Coimbra Hospital and University Center.
Industry giants like “Medtronic Portugal,” “Medtronic Ibérica SA,” “Syreon Research Institute,” and “RTE Lab” are also backing this initiative, along with the European initiative “XR4Europe.” The project is overseen by the non-profit private organization “Instituto Pedro Nunes,” with co-coordination provided by “EIT Health InnoStars.”
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Used on improving communication, leadership, and team-building skills within medical settings. This addresses the critical soft skills that are often just as important as technical expertise in delivering high-quality patient care.
the “VR Health Champions” initiative represents a significant step forward in the integration of VR/AR technologies into European healthcare. By rallying an impressive consortium of SMEs and partners, this project aims to overcome existing barriers and foster innovation that could transform medical practice. With a clear focus on human-centric solutions and a commitment to collaboration across sectors, the initiative is poised to make a lasting impact on how healthcare is delivered in Europe, ultimately improving patient outcomes and enhancing the overall efficiency of medical facilities. As VR/AR technologies continue to advance, we can anticipate exciting developments that may completely reshape our understanding and experience of healthcare. Stay tuned for more updates on this transformative journey!
