Smart D8 opens new call for pilots for health and wellbeing demonstrator

‘Smart D8’ is an urban demonstrator providing opportunities for indigenous and international innovators to investigate how smart technology and innovative approaches can be used to improve health and wellbeing in an urban population.

Today, Smart D8 announces the launch of a new call for pilots.

Smart D8 is looking to engage and collaborate with private companies, academics, healthcare providers and public organisations who want to demonstrate their innovative solutions with the local community.

The initial work of Smart D8 focused on significant community research to measure unmet population health and wellness needs.

Following on from this research, a number of pilot projects were actioned to directly respond to this community feedback.

A range of innovations have already been rolled out with positive impacts on population health and wellbeing – reaching over 5,000 citizens in and around the Dublin 8 district, before scaling nationally.

These initiatives include Heart of Our City which aimed at improving awareness around and management of cardiovascular disease in the community, Civic Dollars which enabled people to earn digital currency through spending time in local parks, and Ways To Wellbeing which boosted the wellbeing and mental health of elderly people by giving them the chance to connect with young people in their community in a meaningful way.

Smart D8 is now seeking applications for a new round of pilot projects focused on Population Health, Positive and Healthy Ageing, and Connected Patients in the Community to continue health and wellbeing innovation in Dublin 8 and beyond.

Stephen Brennan, Head of Strategy and Partnerships at The Digital Hub and Chair of Smart D8, said:

“Smart D8 opens our third round of pilot project calls and is responding to real health and wellbeing needs of citizens in Dublin 8 and beyond – and looking for the best solutions to challenges in Population Health, Positive and Healthy Ageing, and Connected Patients in the Community. We are especially interested in working with those who want to demonstrate their products, services and research in real-world conditions.”

Jack Lehane, Smart D8 Ecosystem Manager, said:

“Community outreach has been at the heart of Smart D8 since its inception. This new call provides a great opportunity to expand this forward-looking approach to healthcare innovation. By providing access to communities and local infrastructures, we will provide a platform for innovation to thrive and taking a health and wellness approach will help reduce the number of people who get sick in the first place.”

Orla Veale, Academic Health Science Campus Director at St. James’s Hospital, said:

“Healthcare is changing rapidly and moving to a more preventative model that considers the wider determinants of health, outside of the traditional boundaries of the hospital environment. To address these challenges and realise opportunities for the Irish healthcare system, it needs to be a collaborative endeavour. St. James’s Hospital are delighted to continue our participation in Smart D8 and look forward to seeing the continued impact for the public.”

Jamie Cudden, Smart City Lead at Dublin City Council, said:

“The Smart D8 partnership is a unique collaboration that cuts across 12 public, private and academic partners who are backing these pilot calls with access to funding, expertise, know- how and wider organisational supports. Dublin City Council through our Smart Dublin initiative are excited to be supporting this pilot call which has such potential to bring innovative ideas and solutions to the Dublin 8 area.”

The lead partners are joined in the Smart D8 consortium by the Guinness Enterprise Centre, HSE Digital Transformation, Tyndall National Institute, St Patrick’s Mental Health Services, Trinity College Dublin Research & Innovation, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, National College of Art & Design, and Health Innovation Hub Ireland.

Applicants can apply here at https://smartdublin.ie/smart-districts/smart-d8/