DigiCare Innovation aims to establish a transformative healthcare ecosystem that empowers communities, enhances primary and community care, and strengthens the capacity of HEIs to lead innovation. It aligns with the objectives of the EIT HEI Initiative by addressing critical healthcare challenges, fostering entrepreneurship, and integrating HEIs into vibrant innovation ecosystems.The proposal seeks to build innovation capacity in HEIs by creating interdisciplinary testbeds and innovation structures that foster collaboration among academia, industry, and healthcare providers. These testbeds, equipped with cutting-edge IoT and digital technologies, will serve as living labs where innovative solutions for oncology, mental health, and primary care are co-created and validated. By embedding these testbeds into institutional strategies, HEIs will evolve into engines of systemic healthcare transformation. The initiative will also provide tailored training programs and interdisciplinary curricula, equipping students and professionals with the skills to develop and implement innovative digital health solutions. A core objective of DigiCare Innovation is to develop and scale impactful startups that address pressing healthcare challenges. This will be achieved through a structured incubator and accelerator program, offering mentorship, technical support, and access to resources such as testbeds and strategic partnerships. These startups will deliver scalable solutions that empower patients, reduce healthcare disparities, and improve outcomes in underserved communities. The proposal places a strong emphasis on inclusivity and sustainability by ensuring that innovations are affordable, accessible, and culturally relevant. By prioritizing solutions tailored to the needs of marginalized and underserved populations, DigiCare Innovation will bridge healthcare disparities and enhance equity. The integration of Smart Specialization Strategies (S3) and alignment with EU regional innovation schemes will further ensure the scalability and sustainability of project outcomes. DigiCare Innovation’s objectives are underpinned by a robust methodology that combines the Knowledge Triangle Model, Design Thinking, Testing Business Ideas and Lean Startup principles. These approaches foster user-centered, iterative, and evidence-based innovation, ensuring that solutions are practical, scalable, and aligned with real-world needs. The involvement of patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers in every stage of development will ensure that solutions address actual challenges and gain widespread adoption. By 2030, DigiCare Innovation expects to achieve transformative outcomes, including empowered communities with improved health literacy, decentralized and cost-effective healthcare delivery, globally recognized HEI leadership in innovation, and a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Project coordinator

Sandra Jansen, Doctor, Hochschule Bielefeld – University of Applied Sciences and Arts (contact)