After three successful editions, the HealthTech Adria Meetup once again gathers everyone who wants to advance healthcare technologies – from researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to healthcare and technology experts. Each of the previous editions has contributed to strengthening the healthtech community, networking, and sharing knowledge about the latest innovation practices in digital health, medical technology, and biopharmaceuticals.
The fourth edition of the HealthTech Adria Meetup was held once again through the collaboration of NetHub Accelerator and the School of Medicine in Split, at the Center for Clinical Skills, this time focusing on the development of medical devices in Croatia!
The goal of yesterday’s Meetup was to motivate and inspire everyone who has a great idea for developing a medical device but doesn’t know where to start, encouraging them to take the first step and gain new, useful knowledge about product development, market opportunities, and technological innovations in the healthcare sector.
The Meetup was opened by Mihaela Papić, Program Manager at NetHub. She emphasized that the goal is to provide insight into the complex process of medical device development and answer questions that trouble many entrepreneurs and engineers at the beginning of their innovative projects. Following a brief introduction, she introduced the lecturers, Associate Professors at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture (FESB) in Split, Duje Čoko and Josip Musić.
Both have extensive research experience, and their shared passion for electrical engineering contributes to their success in the academic community. Duje focuses on electronic systems and instrumentation; his knowledge in measurement and electronics makes him a key participant in the development of advanced technological solutions. On the other hand, Josip focuses on robotics, computer vision, estimation algorithms, and machine learning.
Yesterday’s presentation began with Duje, who highlighted the key steps in medical device development, from the initial identification of unmet medical needs and market analysis to regulatory planning and prototyping. He pointed out that medical device development is a complex and demanding process involving national and international standards, preclinical trials, laboratory testing, and final clinical trials. He specifically emphasized the importance of collaboration with medical professionals, as unmet needs and challenges can be identified through their practical experience, opening doors for innovation.
Duje also mentioned that collaboration between local institutions, such as hospitals, faculties, and incubators, can significantly contribute to the development of new technologies.
Following this, Josip presented an example of developing a reading system prototype, ReadTrack Glasses (RTG), motivated by the desire to develop technology that would facilitate the diagnosis and progress monitoring for individuals with dyslexia. He explained how RTG glasses were designed to objectively monitor the effectiveness of fonts developed for people with reading disorders.
Key challenges encountered during development were technical, including component optimization and adherence to strict safety standards, such as preventing overheating. However, Josip emphasized that the greatest strength of this project lay in the multidisciplinary collaboration of the teams.
The inspiring lecture was followed by an interview conducted by Maja Mimica, R&D Manager at NetHub.
A particularly interesting question concerned what hospitals can do to encourage innovation. Duje pointed out the importance of people first realizing that we can all be drivers of ideas and innovation, placing special emphasis on inter-institutional collaboration. The lecturers noted that a reward system for innovators could further motivate the development of new solutions. Marko Mimica from NetHub Accelerator highlighted that KBC Split is already actively working on creating a favorable environment for healthcare innovation.
The lecturers agreed that education is the key to long-term progress in this field, stressing the importance of continuous education for young people at all levels to prepare them for the technological challenges of the future.
When asked about which technologies represent the greatest potential for medtech sector development in Croatia, Duje highlighted the development of diagnostic devices that offer rapid processing of large amounts of data. Josip added that a significant advantage lies in portable devices for field use, while Marko sees potential in disruptive technologies such as AI, machine learning, telemedicine, and AR/VR, which are already significantly changing healthcare delivery.
At the end of the interview, Marko announced the first healthtech conference to be held on December 5th and 6th in Split. He noted that the conference would gather leading experts, innovators, investors, and entrepreneurs, providing participants the chance to learn about the latest trends shaping the future of healthcare.
He added that the conference would be an excellent platform for further networking, collaboration, and knowledge exchange, inviting everyone present to stay tuned for updates and participate in the upcoming event.
Finally, moderator Mihaela thanked the participants for attending, the lecturers for their insights, and the sponsors for their support. She invited everyone to join the informal networking session and refreshments.
Following the Meetup, participants relaxed in an informal atmosphere, exchanging impressions and forging new connections. The positive energy once again emphasized the importance of such events for professional development and networking within the healthtech community.
The fourth edition of HealthTech Adria Meetup showed once again that this is not just a network for exchanging ideas, but an opportunity to create long-lasting collaborations. Through such events, the healthtech sector strengthens, and participants collectively contribute to shaping the future of healthcare care.
We are excited to announce the HealthTech Adria Conference – follow our website and social media for more information!