In this interview, find out more about Embedded Fitness (South Netherlands) & NeuroInova (Portugal, Norte), who will be responding to the challenge of improving care on post-stroke patients “Fun4Function”.
To begin with, could you tell us about the activity and the purpose of your companies Embedded Fitness and NeuroInova?
Embedded Fitness (EF) specializes in developing interactive exergames for healthcare, education, companies, and sports sectors. Our goal is to merge the latest technologies with physical activity to make exercises more engaging and enjoyable. By adding a fun and interactive element to revalidation programs, particularly for stroke patients, we aim to increase adherence to therapy and improve outcomes.
NeuroInova (NI) is dedicated to clinical services and research in neurosciences, with a focus on early diagnosis and intervention in cognitive impairments. We have developed Brain on Track®, a digital tool that helps assess and monitor cognitive functions like attention, memory, and executive skills. Our aim is to create innovative solutions that aid healthcare professionals and patients by offering effective cognitive assessment tools that can be used remotely.
What attracted you to DIGIT-PRE?
DIGIT-PRE presented a unique opportunity to expand the potential of our solutions by encouraging collaborations across borders and industries. For both Embedded Fitness and NeuroInova, the project offers a supportive ecosystem for developing cutting-edge digital health tools, which aligns with our vision of improving care for post-stroke patients. The call’s focus on digital health innovation and remote care, particularly in neurological conditions, resonates deeply with our shared mission. Furthermore, DIGIT-PRE’s resources and networking platform enable us to scale our technology and validate our solutions in new international markets, while benefiting from its guidance on ethical, business, and regulatory aspects.
Could you describe your common project "Fun4Function" in a few words?
Our joint project, Fun4Function, focuses on improving post-stroke care by merging cognitive and physical revalidation into a single digital solution. EF’s SmartClips™ are already enhancing physical therapy by making it more engaging. By integrating NeuroInova’s Brain on Track® into the SmartClips™ platform, we are creating an innovative tool that allows healthcare professionals to monitor and improve both physical and cognitive functions. This combination not only enhances therapy adherence but also enables telerehabilitation, empowering patients to continue their recovery from home with real-time support and progress tracking.
What challenges have you faced so far when working with a partner from another country?
Collaborating internationally brings enriching but complex challenges. Language differences, for instance, can slow down communication, especially when dealing with medical and technical terminology that requires precise understanding. Translating NeuroInova’s Brain on Track® into Dutch, for example, is more than just a linguistic challenge – it requires cultural and clinical validation to ensure its effectiveness in a new population. Additionally, differing work styles and approaches to deadlines have necessitated greater flexibility and adaptability from both teams. But these challenges have ultimately strengthened our partnership by promoting open communication and fostering a culture of learning and respect.
Finally, have you already taken part in a European project before? If not, what are your concerns? If so, why do it again?
Both EF and NI have prior experience with European projects, and this experience has shown us the immense value of such collaborations. We’ve found that working within a European framework allows for the exchange of expertise, access to diverse resources, and the ability to address larger-scale challenges, such as expanding our technologies across different healthcare systems. The opportunity to validate and grow our products internationally, while contributing to Europe’s digital health ecosystem, is invaluable. We’re keen to participate again because European projects offer an unmatched platform for innovation and international cooperation, enabling us to refine our solutions and positively impact patients across borders.
