After two successful editions, the HealthTech Adria Meetup once again gathers enthusiasts and experts from the healthtech field!
NetHub Accelerator, in collaboration with the School of Medicine in Split, has once again opened the doors of the Center for Clinical Skills for the third edition of the HealthTech Adria Meetup, focusing on healthcare data management!
Yesterday’s Meetup was organized with the goal of providing education on the importance of proper collection, storage, analysis, and protection of health data to improve the quality of healthcare and medical services.
The Meetup was opened by Maja Čurković from the NetHub Accelerator, who, after the opening remarks, introduced the keynote speaker, Jovan Stevovic.
Jovan Stevovic, PhD, is a startup advisor specializing in health data protection and security, and the director of Chino.io—a platform providing services for secure health and personal data management in compliance with regulations such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). He delivered a presentation titled Building and Delivering Digital Health Solutions to European and US Markets, where he highlighted the importance of data protection and security and provided advice on all aspects to be considered.
Dr. Stevovic used several examples to point out the dangers that arise when organizations fail to protect their patients’ health data appropriately. He emphasized that such oversights can lead to severe consequences for the organization, including bankruptcy and criminal investigations, underlining the extreme importance of data protection.
On the other hand, despite emphasizing the importance of data protection, he concluded that researchers and startups should not make it their primary focus. Instead, they should focus on developing the business model and sales, identifying the right moment to involve GDPR experts.
Expert Jovan Stevovic, PhD, is known for his significant contribution to the development of health technologies. His extensive experience includes mentoring in eight healthtech accelerators, where he actively helps young entrepreneurs and innovators develop and commercialize their ideas. Throughout his career, Dr. Stevovic has advised more than 150 startups in digital health, providing strategic support and expertise in key areas such as digital medicine, health apps, telemedicine, and biotechnology.
The engaging presentation was followed by an interview conducted by Maja Čurković, R&D Manager at NetHub and an expert in user needs research.
When asked about the most common misconceptions regarding GDPR and data protection, Dr. Stevovic explained that researchers and startups often think there are restrictions that don’t apply to their business model. He particularly emphasized the difference between the risks and responsibilities of B2C (business-to-consumer) and B2B (business-to-business) models and the importance of timely decision-making regarding business models.
We also discussed the unavoidable topic: Artificial Intelligence. The question was how much AI complicates data protection and how well it is being accepted. Jovan explained that as long as all stakeholders understand every aspect of the product or service affected by AI, there are no significant difficulties. He noted that people in general, as well as relevant stakeholders, are increasingly open to AI in healthcare due to the possibilities of lowering costs and process automation.
Through the story of developing his company Chino.io, the speaker clarified that there is no secret recipe for success. He emphasized the benefits of monitoring market opportunities, the extreme importance of networking, and added with a laugh that it is vital to be in the right place at the right time.
Near the end of our gathering, Maja enthusiastically announced the next Meetup, featuring more interesting topics and inspiring speakers. She also extended special thanks to the sponsors and media partners whose support significantly contributed to the success of our Meetup.
After the formal part of the Meetup, participants continued to socialize in a relaxed atmosphere, exchanging impressions and forging new connections. The positive energy once again confirmed the importance of such events as excellent opportunities for professional development, collaboration, and networking within the healthtech community.
We are excited to announce the fourth edition of the HealthTech Adria Meetup which will take place in the coming period… stay tuned and see you soon!