TEF-Health event paved the way for AI Alignment, Safety, and Trust in European Healthcare
General
RTD Laboratories
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Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) hosted the TEF-Health 2024 event, which brought together over 400 participants from across Europe, including startups, SMEs, healthcare organisations, policymakers, investors, and students. The event focused on the democratisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with a particular emphasis on the challenges and opportunities introduced by the European Union's AI Act.
During the session ‘TEF-Health: An Instrument for Alignment, Safety and Trust in AI in Europe’, industry leaders and experts explored the crucial role of the TEF-Health initiative in fostering a secure and trustworthy AI ecosystem for European healthcare. The discussion highlighted the frameworks, guidelines, and support mechanisms designed to ensure that AI technologies align with ethical standards, adhere to safety protocols, and prioritise patient safety and data privacy.
António Lindo da Cunha, Executive Director of IPN's Automatics and Systems Lab and Portuguese Node Leader of TEF-Health, opened the session with a discussion on the opportunities and risks of AI in healthcare. António emphasised the importance of regulations, such as the AI Act, in mitigating potential risks while enabling innovation.
Tatjana Evas, Legal and Policy Officer at the European Commission (DG CONNECT), provided insights into “The AI Act and Its Impact on Healthcare Solutions”. Tatjana outlined how the AI Act represents the first comprehensive legal framework for AI in Europe and discussed its implications for the healthcare sector, particularly in terms of innovation, patient safety, and trust.
Saila Rinne, Head of Unit “eHealth, Well-Being, and Ageing” at DG CONNECT, presented “EU Strategy, Framework, and Tools to Support the Implementation of the AI Act” focused on the EU's efforts to support companies, especially SMEs, in complying with the new regulations, highlighting instruments and financial support aimed at fostering innovation.
Petra Ritter, TEF-Health Coordinator and Director of International Affairs at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, discussed “TEF-Health’s Role in AI and Robotics Validation”. Petra emphasised the initiative’s commitment to providing access to cutting-edge testing and development facilities across Europe, helping companies bring safe and effective AI-driven healthcare solutions to market.
Helena Rosário da Costa, Senior Policy Officer at the National Innovation Agency (ANI), shared “The Portuguese Perspective on AI Act Implementation”. Helena discussed Portugal’s strategies for applying the AI Act, focusing on tools and support available to national companies to help them navigate the new regulatory landscape.
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Steffen Buchholz, Division 124 – Medical Device Safety at the Federal Ministry of Health, Germany, provided insights into “The Intersection of the AI Act and Medical Device Regulations in Germany”. His presentation detailed how the AI Act will work alongside existing medical device regulations to ensure safety and trust in healthcare innovations.
During the second session ‘TEF-Health: Open Call for SMEs and Success Stories’, Cristiana Costa, Coordinator of LAS IPN's R&D Impact Unit, TEF-Health's Executive Board Member and Portuguese Node Coordinator, Anne-Laure Cadji, Coordinator of TEF-Health's Belgian Node, and Maxime Rossi, TEF-Health's Executive Board member and Coordinator of Physical Testing Facilities, explained the initiative and how can be a door for validation and to the European market for all AI or Robotics companies across Europe.
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Two successful stories of companies that will benefit from TEF-Health support were shared, namely AI4MEDImaging (by Adriano Pinto, Senior Data Science) and IONIC (by Igor Santos, MD Chief Medical Officer).
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IPN leads the national TEF-Health consortium, which includes the Coimbra Local Health Unit (ULS Coimbra), the São João Local Health Unit (ULS São João), the Ministry of Health's Shared Services, Health Cluster Portugal and EIT Health Innostars.
Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN) hosted the TEF-Health 2024 event, which brought together over 400 participants from across Europe, including startups, SMEs, healthcare organisations, policymakers, investors, and students. The event focused on the democratisation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, with a particular emphasis on the challenges and opportunities introduced by the European Union's AI Act.
During the session ‘TEF-Health: An Instrument for Alignment, Safety and Trust in AI in Europe’, industry leaders and experts explored the crucial role of the TEF-Health initiative in fostering a secure and trustworthy AI ecosystem for European healthcare. The discussion highlighted the frameworks, guidelines, and support mechanisms designed to ensure that AI technologies align with ethical standards, adhere to safety protocols, and prioritise patient safety and data privacy.
António Lindo da Cunha, Executive Director of IPN's Automatics and Systems Lab and Portuguese Node Leader of TEF-Health, opened the session with a discussion on the opportunities and risks of AI in healthcare. António emphasised the importance of regulations, such as the AI Act, in mitigating potential risks while enabling innovation.
Tatjana Evas, Legal and Policy Officer at the European Commission (DG CONNECT), provided insights into “The AI Act and Its Impact on Healthcare Solutions”. Tatjana outlined how the AI Act represents the first comprehensive legal framework for AI in Europe and discussed its implications for the healthcare sector, particularly in terms of innovation, patient safety, and trust.
Saila Rinne, Head of Unit “eHealth, Well-Being, and Ageing” at DG CONNECT, presented “EU Strategy, Framework, and Tools to Support the Implementation of the AI Act” focused on the EU's efforts to support companies, especially SMEs, in complying with the new regulations, highlighting instruments and financial support aimed at fostering innovation.
Petra Ritter, TEF-Health Coordinator and Director of International Affairs at Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, discussed “TEF-Health’s Role in AI and Robotics Validation”. Petra emphasised the initiative’s commitment to providing access to cutting-edge testing and development facilities across Europe, helping companies bring safe and effective AI-driven healthcare solutions to market.
Helena Rosário da Costa, Senior Policy Officer at the National Innovation Agency (ANI), shared “The Portuguese Perspective on AI Act Implementation”. Helena discussed Portugal’s strategies for applying the AI Act, focusing on tools and support available to national companies to help them navigate the new regulatory landscape.
Steffen Buchholz, Division 124 – Medical Device Safety at the Federal Ministry of Health, Germany, provided insights into “The Intersection of the AI Act and Medical Device Regulations in Germany”. His presentation detailed how the AI Act will work alongside existing medical device regulations to ensure safety and trust in healthcare innovations.
During the second session ‘TEF-Health: Open Call for SMEs and Success Stories’, Cristiana Costa, Coordinator of LAS IPN's R&D Impact Unit, TEF-Health's Executive Board Member and Portuguese Node Coordinator, Anne-Laure Cadji, Coordinator of TEF-Health's Belgian Node, and Maxime Rossi, TEF-Health's Executive Board member and Coordinator of Physical Testing Facilities, explained the initiative and how can be a door for validation and to the European market for all AI or Robotics companies across Europe.
Two successful stories of companies that will benefit from TEF-Health support were shared, namely AI4MEDImaging (by Adriano Pinto, Senior Data Science) and IONIC (by Igor Santos, MD Chief Medical Officer).
IPN leads the national TEF-Health consortium, which includes the Coimbra Local Health Unit (ULS Coimbra), the São João Local Health Unit (ULS São João), the Ministry of Health's Shared Services, Health Cluster Portugal and EIT Health Innostars.
