Project description
VRHealthChampions – Virtual and augmented reality in healthcare
The VRHealthChampions project is an international initiative aimed at accelerating the implementation of VR/AR (Extended Reality, XR) technologies in European healthcare systems. It focuses on overcoming market barriers that slow down the commercialization of innovative solutions, especially in less developed regions of Europe.
Project objectives:
- supporting 5 flagship SMEs developing XR applications for medicine,
- increasing the technological maturity of solutions (from TRL6 to TRL9),
- creating new value chains and services supporting XR innovation in healthcare,
- building interregional cooperation and bridging the gap between developed and less developed regions.
Key areas of XR application:
- medical navigation during surgery,
- therapeutic immersive games,
- cognitive function assessment,
- training of students and medical professionals,
- personalization of VR kits for clinical needs.
Results:
The project aims to:
- accelerate the implementation of XR innovations into clinical practice,
- increase the competitiveness of European SMEs in the digital health sector,
- prepare healthcare systems for the next wave of technological transformation,
- include XR solutions in reimbursement systems in Europe.
Consortium:
VRHealthChampions is implemented by 17 partners from across Europe, including universities, hospitals, foundations, innovation clusters, and technology companies. Partners include Instituto Pedro Nunes (coordinator, Portugal), Medtronic Portugal, Fondazione Bruno Kessler (Italy), Fundacja Klaster LifeScience Kraków, MedApp S.A., Medical University of Łódź, Łódź University of Technology, and EIT Health InnoStars.
Why is this important?
VR/AR technologies have the potential to revolutionize the way we diagnose, treat, and educate in medicine. The VRHealthChampions project not only supports the development of innovative solutions, but also ensures that they will be accessible and implementable across Europe, contributing to improving the quality of healthcare and strengthening the EU’s position in the global digital health market.