Hospital Innovation Challenge - AI Alert System for Organ Donor Monitoring

Unidade Local de Saúde de São João

About 

The Hospital Innovation Challenge (HIC) is a European initiative launched by Health Cluster Portugal (HCP), Instituto Pedro Nunes (IPN), and EIT Health InnoStars, within the scope of the TEF-Health and DigiHealthPT projects. The challenge connects startups and SMEs with real-world clinical and administrative needs identified by leading European hospitals. In its first phase, hospital partners submitted key challenges from their daily operations. Now, in this second phase, startups and SMEs are invited to choose one of those challenges and submit a technology-driven solution.

A jury will evaluate all proposals and select the six most innovative solutions, which will be presented live at the Innovating Health Together (IHT) Conference, taking place on 28 October 2025 at the Super Bock Arena in Porto, Portugal. Selected participants will receive free access to the conference and will pitch their ideas during a dedicated session. The three most promising solutions will be awarded specialised innovation support services from DigiHealthPT—offering a valuable opportunity to accelerate implementation and collaboration with healthcare providers.

The Challenge  

Proposed by the Unidade Local de Saúde de São João (Porto, Portugal), this challenge focuses on improving organ donor identification and preservation in intensive care settings. The goal is to develop an AI-based tool that automatically analyses a set of clinical and imaging variables to generate real-time alerts, enabling timely assessment and proactive monitoring of potential organ donors. The system would trigger alerts based on criteria such as a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score ≤ 6, NIHSS ≥ 27, or Hunt-Hess ≥ 4, as well as critical CT imaging findings, including temporal hemorrhage, midline shift ≥ 5 mm, and various forms of brain herniation. By flagging high-risk cases early, this solution aims to minimize donor loss and prevent deterioration, ultimately supporting more effective organ donation workflows.

Timeframe

Deadline for Submitting Proposals: 31/07/2025 

Who can apply  

This opportunity is open to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). For detailed information on eligibility requirements, please click here.

How to apply 

For detailed information on the application process, please click here. If you need more information about Innovating Health Together Conference, please access the official website: https://www.ihtconference.com/.

The SPIN4EIC consortium is not responsible for the challenges launched by private or public buyers. Each participating entity is solely responsible for its own challenge, including the selection process, communication with applicants, and all information provided to participants.