After the first edition of the HealthTech Adria Meetup exceeded all expectations, we concluded that it was time to gather the healthtech community once again!
NetHub Accelerator, in collaboration with the School of Medicine in Split, once again opened the doors of the Center for Clinical Skills for the second edition of the HealthTech Adria Meetup, focusing on the application of Artificial Intelligence in healthcare!
The main goal of yesterday’s event, alongside networking for healthtech community stakeholders, was to provide information on one of today’s most current topics: the application of AI in the healthcare sector.
The Meetup began with a lecture by Goran Krakar, PhD, a specialist in pediatrics and pediatric neurology and the director of the Dr. Sabol Polyclinic for Children’s Diseases. An inspiring scientist, Dr. Krakar is known for developing the innovative SENDD application, which uses an AI system for the early detection of potential neurodevelopmental deviations in infants. He delivered a lecture titled From the Clinic to AI Innovation, where he emphasized the importance of sharing ideas and creating a network of stakeholders. In his case, this enabled the development of a product that provides better medical care for young patients while supporting their parents.
Following the engaging lecture was a panel discussion moderated by Maja Čurković, R&D Manager at NetHub. She opened the discussion with the question: How do you see the current impact of artificial intelligence on society?
Sharing their unique perspectives on the development of the AI market in healthcare, the changes it brings, and insights into technological trends were Goran Krakar, PhD; Ognjen Bagatin, co-owner and director of Sinteza Polyclinic (part of Futura Medical Group); Ivan Biliškov, founder and CEO of Codeasy and a doctoral candidate at FESB Split; and Associate Professor Petar Šolić, PhD, professor at FESB Split and founder/CEO of Waveform.
The panelists emphasized that nowadays, people are increasingly open to artificial intelligence and its applications, and this will grow even more in the future. They agreed that the marketing and development of ChatGPT brought the term “artificial intelligence” closer to the general public, creating a shift in the mass perception of AI.
Scientist Goran Krakar, PhD, stressed that AI is a tool that will not replace doctors, but will make it easier for them to focus on what is most important in diagnosing and treating patients. Furthermore, he sent a strong message to the attendees: innovators should not feel limited by coming from a “small country” like Croatia, as innovation development knows no borders—especially with the help of AI.
Renowned entrepreneur Ognjen Bagatin predicts a strong development of the innovation-healthcare ecosystem and the healthtech community. He noted that the healthcare market is growing exponentially, with public health spending reaching 6.4 billion euros in recent years. Therefore, he emphasized that “now” is the right time to invest in IT solutions for healthcare. With the massive AI boom and the rising needs of the healthcare sector, investments will find wide application, and the commercialization of every product serves as motivation for the community to develop solutions that will change our future.
Software and AI expert Ivan Biliškov cited several good practice examples from the innovation ecosystem and highlighted that shared motivation and synergy between these two sectors are key factors for maximizing the possibilities of AI advancement. He highlighted an AI platform for psychological aid as a prime example of his team’s work. He stressed that events like this are the perfect opportunity for the “spark” needed to connect these two worlds.
Associate Professor Petar Šolić, PhD discussed the importance of digital technology in healthcare, concluding that doubts regarding technology and human trust still exist, and that the human aspect still commands the most trust. He pointed out that significant difficulties arise from the communication gap between healthcare and IT professionals. He stated that the key to success is patience and investing in collaboration between these two sectors to ensure AI applications provide the best possible contribution to healthcare.
At the conclusion of the panel, inspired by stories from the healthtech scene, participants joined the discussion. They concluded that integrating AI into the healthcare system is not just a trend but a change promising a revolution. Since there were also skeptics in the room, the debate was exceptionally dynamic.
Before ending the formal part of the Meetup, moderator Maja Čurković addressed the crowd with a powerful message and an announcement for the next session.
“Thank you all for gathering in such large numbers once again! Unlocking the potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare provides us with a unique opportunity to develop the innovation ecosystem in Croatia!” Maja Čurković emphasized.
The gathering continued in a relaxed atmosphere marked by networking and new connections. The enthusiasm of those present confirms the importance of such events for connecting healthtech community members and as a catalyst for further development and collaboration.
We are delighted to announce the third Meetup which will take place soon… stay tuned!