New EU Initiative Aims to Revolutionise Healthcare with Extended Reality
The European Union has introduced VR Health Champions, a pioneering €7.8 million initiative designed to promote the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in healthcare. This comprehensive three-year project aims to accelerate the creation of extended reality (XR) solutions in underdeveloped areas while removing clinical, commercial, and regulatory hurdles. The Interregional Innovation Investment mechanism of the European Regional Development Fund is a co-funding source for the endeavour.
A total of 18 partners from eight EU member states—Italy, Poland, Latvia, Portugal, Hungary, Germany, Belgium, and Spain—are involved in the initiative. These collaborators, which include academic institutions, research centers, and business titans, seek to improve surgical methods, treatments, and medical diagnostics. The initiative also aims to sponsor activities and share expertise in order to enhance the European XR healthcare community.
Medtronic Portugal, Medtronic Ibérica SA, the Hungarian Syreon Research Institute, XR4Europe, and the RTE Lab are among the notable contributors. Furthermore, five medtech-related small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) are significantly contributing:
Latvian company Lightspace focusses in producing multifocal displays for 3D visualisation that is focused on people. Their augmented reality-enabled technologies are designed to improve healthcare navigation and presentation.
The Italian company MEEVA creates Zentastic VR, a technology that helps teenagers with neurodevelopmental problems by fusing machine learning-based physiological analytics with immersive multiplayer gaming. Therapists may use the platform to monitor stress levels and enhance social relationships.
CarnaLife Holo, developed by MedApp in Poland, employs XR glasses for surgical assistance and preoperative planning. The glasses are being further developed by the business to allow for real-time tracking of surgical tools within XR. They are working with Lightspace to develop cutting-edge surgical navigation and anatomical visualisation systems.
Polish company Metaskills specialises in educating soft skills, particularly for healthcare workers, through the use of virtual reality and generative AI. Their software allows users to engage with 3D avatars in real time, mimicking natural dialogue and providing immediate feedback to improve skills.
Portugal-based Virtuleap creates training programs and cognitive evaluation tools. Through thorough testing and validation, the project will support their new product, Cogniclear VR, which integrates approved neuropsychological tests for cognitive evaluation.
In addition to assisting these flagship businesses, the VR Health Champions project seeks to expand XR healthcare innovation throughout Europe. Through cascade funding, cross-sector collaboration, and making sure innovations meet the needs of both patients and providers, more SMEs will be involved.
According to Cristiana Costa from Portugal’s Instituto Pedro Nunes, the initiative aims to expedite market entry and exert a bigger effect on patient care by expanding XR healthcare options.
EIT Health InnoStars’ Peter Nagy underlined the importance of the partnership in bridging the technical gap between Europe’s more developed and less inventive regions. He pointed out that issues in Central and Southern Europe include a lack of qualified personnel and a lack of knowledge among medical experts. The program aims to foster equitable innovation and level the playing field by utilising the project’s knowledge and assistance.
This EU-supported initiative demonstrates the revolutionary potential of extended reality technology, opening the door for a more inventive, patient-centered, and integrated healthcare system throughout Europe.
