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VRHealthChampions
We Are Health Champions - Disrupting the European Healthcare Systems with Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality Applications

Challenge

The VR Health Champions project is a three-year initiative co-funded by the European Union's Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument under the European Regional Development Fund.

In order to accelerate the uptake of Extended Reality (XR) technology in healthcare, VR HEALTH CHAMPIONS aims to reduce the market barriers for healthcare Virtual Reality/Augmented Reality (VR/AR) applications in less developed European regions by addressing the gaps in the value chains of 5 flagship SMEs, and by learning from the experience, customize innovation support services for other SMEs in the healthcare VR/AR sector.

Solution

VR HEALTH CHAMPIONS project will upgrade the technology readiness level (TLR) of VR/AR innovations developed by flagship SMEs from TRL6 to TRL9. These innovations apply to areas such as:
- The subjects of medical navigation during surgery;
- Therapeutic immersive games;
- Cognitive evaluation;
- Education of medical professionals and students;
- VR headset customization for medical use.
These use cases will be accelerated by closing the gap in their value chains and by assisting them with new services customized for the XR solutions in order to mitigate the market barriers.

VR HEALTH CHAMPIONS paves the way towards:
- Closing the innovation gap between developed and less developed European regions,
- A healthcare sector prepared for the next technological transformation, and
- To the inclusion of European healthcare XR innovations in healthcare reimbursement systems, through interregional cooperation, new European value chains and mitigation of market barriers, by capitalizing on the various strengths within the partnership.

This ultimately contributes to strengthening the position of the participating Member States and the EU in the global health XR market, strengthens the digital competitiveness of the participating regions and creates an opportunity for European health XR solutions to advance on the market.

Objectives, Activities and Results expected / achieved

Key Activities:
Market Readiness: Supporting five flagship SMEs to achieve market-ready solutions (TRL 6 to TRL 9) through tailored business roadmaps and interregional investment strategies.
Technical Development: Enhancing hardware, software, and content creation while ensuring usability and validation through testbeds and living labs.
Regulatory and Market Support: Guiding SMEs through certification processes (e.g., CE marking) and market entry strategies, including reimbursement models and patient pathways.
Capacity Building: Developing skills among healthcare professionals and raising awareness about VR/AR solutions.
Cascade Funding: Engaging additional SMEs and startups to address value chain gaps and broaden the project’s impact.

Expected Results:
Market-Ready XR Solutions: Delivery of innovative and validated healthcare technologies.
Improved Ecosystem: Establishing a sustainable, interregional healthcare XR innovation network.
Policy Impact: Insights and blueprints to streamline regulatory processes and support future innovations.
Enhanced Healthcare Outcomes: Personalized therapies, improved training tools, and advanced medical devices.
Sustainability: Long-term services and strategies for the European XR healthcare ecosystem.

Project Reference

Grant Agreemento No 101161333

Funding


Intervention Region

Europe

Total Investment

7.881.329,46

IPN Investment

514.499,87

Total Eligible

7.881.329,46

IPN Eligible

514.499,87

EC Funding – Total

5.816.922,00

EC Funding – IPN

360.149,00

Duration

36 Months

Start Date

2024-10-01

End Date

2027-09-30

Approval Date

2024-03-12

Consortium

Instituto Pedro Nunes
Virtuleap Lda
Medtronic Portugal Lda
Medtronic Iberica
Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra EPE
Fondazione Bruno Kesseler
Meeva S.R.L. Societa´ Benefit
Fundacja Klaster Lifescience Krakow
Medapp Spolka Akcyjna
Sia Lightspace Technologies
Latvijas Universitate
Metaskills Sp Zoo
Rte Lab Spolka Z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnoscia
Politechnika Lodzka
Universytet Medyczny W Lodzi
Eit Health Innostars Ev
Syreon Kutato Intezet Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag
XR4EUROPE

Website

https://vrhealthchampions.eu/

Keywords

SME Support;
Extended Reality;
Virtual Worlds;
Healthcare;
Digital Health;
Innovation Support Services;
Market Entry.
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