The Medical University of Łódź will take part in the international THRIVE project, which aims to accelerate the commercialisation of medical innovations and the efficient implementation of research findings into everyday healthcare practice. A budget of 2 million euros has been allocated for this two-year project.

The application prepared by the EduCare 5.0 consortium successfully passed the rigorous selection process under the EIT Higher Education Initiative (EIT HEI Initiative). The project secured funding as one of 35 grants selected from 138 applications. This success is of particular significance to the Medical University of Łódź, as this was the first time we had been involved in preparing a proposal within this alliance.

Innovative solutions in healthcare

The THRIVE project (Transforming Healthcare Research into Validated Solutions through Alliance-KIC Cooperation) is an initiative involving fourteen partners from nine European countries. The consortium comprises ten higher education institutions affiliated with the EduCare 5.0 alliance, as well as technology firms, medical sector companies and healthcare providers.

The main objective of the project is to create a stable framework for the development and validation of innovative medical technologies. The initiative helps universities to link academia and industry more effectively – both in teaching and research – enabling them to respond more efficiently to key healthcare challenges. Close cooperation between the academic world and the market will not only accelerate the transformation of research ideas into finished products, but will also help to build lasting partnerships at the intersection of education, science and the economy.

“In healthcare in particular, it is crucial that innovative ideas do not remain confined to the walls of research laboratories, but find their way into medical services and ultimately reach people. Together with our European partners, we are creating structures that support this transfer in a sustainable way and enhance the innovative potential of our universities,” emphasises Prof. Dr Natalie Bartholomäus from the Hochschule Bielefeld (University of Applied Sciences and Arts), the institution coordinating EduCare 5.0.

The role of the Medical University of Łódź

As part of the THRIVE project, the Medical University of Łódź will play a key role as a link to the healthcare sector, providing the consortium with extensive clinical and expert resources, as well as direct access to patients. The university’s most important tasks will include co-developing models to analyse the cost-effectiveness of medical innovations in relation to the National Health Fund (NFZ) system, as well as contributing modern technologies to the project’s database. UMED will also take an active part in building strategic business and scientific partnerships at regional and European level. Furthermore, thanks to the unique potential of the Medical Simulation Centre, UMED will integrate innovative activities with its academic mission, undergoing an internal transformation and significantly developing its organisational capabilities in the field of entrepreneurship.

About EduCare 5.0

The THRIVE project is of key importance for the development of the EduCare 5.0 alliance, of which the Medical University of Łódź is a member. The consortium currently brings together ten partner institutions from nine European countries and has been awarded the prestigious Seal of Excellence certificate by the European Commission as part of the European Universities initiative.

The mission of EduCare 5.0 is to develop an interdisciplinary and digital approach to education and research in the field of healthcare. The ‘5.0’ concept refers to building systems that are crisis-resilient, sustainable and focused primarily on human needs. Joint activities within the partnership include, amongst other things, the development of telemedicine, the application of artificial intelligence in teaching, and research into chronic diseases.

For the academic community at UMED, membership of the alliance and the implementation of the THRIVE project open up new avenues for international research and educational collaboration.