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VR Health Champions, Co-funded by the European Union

Małopolska / Poland

Małopolska, located in southern Poland with Kraków as its largest city, has been designated a Regional Innovation Valley. The region aims to develop its technological capacity in digital health. Poland is classified as an Emerging Innovator, performing at 65.9% of the EU average in 2024—above the Emerging Innovators’ average of 48%—with growth outpacing the EU average (+10%). National strengths include a high number of design applications, a well-educated population, and strong ICT training in enterprises. Recent improvements include increased innovation-related employment and greater government support for business R&D (source: European Innovation Scoreboard 2024, Country Profile, Poland).

In Małopolska region in Poland VR Health Champions together with its partners Klaster LifeScience Kraków (KLSK) and MedApp S.A. drive technological advancements in VR/AR healthcare solutions by fostering collaboration between start-ups, researchers, and industry leaders by promoting creation of conditions for the development of breakthrough innovations, intensifying their popularisation and commercialisation, and stimulating cooperation between EU countries. 

The programme is centred on Life Sciences, including Medical Technologies with special focus on active, healthy life and ageing, innovative hospitals, digital technologies supporting medical care, hybrid medical care, innovative therapeutic technologies and medical devices, as well as laboratory and diagnostic techniques. 

Partners and enablers in the region in this project: 

Klaster LifeScience Kraków (KLSK)’s mission is:

  • creating a cooperation network in the field of life science, enabling effective connection and use of the potential of individuals and institutions – enterprises, universities, research units, business environment and local authorities in Małopolska,
  • supporting entrepreneurship and innovation in the field of life science and creating conditions for effective commercialisation of research results of universities and research and development units,  
  • combining and developing resources and competences in the area of ​​life science in order to effectively use existing possibilities and opportunities related to the development of an innovative knowledge-based economy.  
  • supporting Cluster Partners in achieving their development goals in the field of products, services and technologies for health and quality of life. 

MedApp, a Polish medtech company, which developed CarnaLife Holo, an FDA-approved and CE MDR-certified software as a medical device using XR glasses for preoperative planning and surgical support. As part of VR Health Champions, MedApp will advance its solution to CarnaLife Holo MedNav, enabling real-time tracking of surgical tools within XR. MedApp will cooperate with Lightspace to develop a unique and comfortable solution for surgical navigation and visualisation of hidden anatomical features. 

 

 

 

Regional partners