The finale of the NetHub Research pre-acceleration program was held on February 28, 2024, at the Center for Clinical Skills at the University of Split, School of Medicine.
During the nine-month program, the NetHub Accelerator provided support to researchers in the fields of biomedicine and healthcare through the implementation of an individualized mentoring package. This included support for designing and conducting research, advisory services, and access to NetHub’s wide network of mentors and experts.
The event was opened by the moderator, Mihaela Papić, Program Manager at NetHub, who introduced the goal and concept of the NetHub Research program and presented the steps taken during the program’s workshops.
Following a brief introduction, Marko Mimica, founder of NetHub, addressed the participants and presented a new program—NetHub Catalyst—starting in March this year. This program is supported by the EIT Health network, which gathers a wide range of stakeholders across Europe to foster healthcare innovation. The program’s goal is to focus on transforming ideas into successful health-tech projects and creating a sustainable network of potential partners and investors.
On Demo Day, five research teams presented their solutions to an expert jury consisting of professionals from various fields: Ena Melvan (PhD scientist from Macquarie University in Sydney and founder of the startup Metabelly), Ivan Biliškov (founder and CEO of the IT company Codeasy and doctoral candidate at FESB Split), and Goran Batinić (Director of the Split Development Agency – RaST).
First place was awarded to the Apiotix team with their innovative wound-healing product based on a standardized extract of propolis and dextran—Apiotix gel, which serves as an alternative to antibiotics. The product reduces pain and moisturizes the wound while providing anti-inflammatory effects, showing great potential for improving the quality of life for people with chronic wounds. Jelena Šuran, PhD, presented the solution on behalf of her team.
Second place went to the OSA – Precise team with an AI tool designed to support sleep medicine specialists in early diagnosis, personalized treatment, and the prevention of obstructive sleep apnea. This tool will contribute to the progress of the healthcare system, improve patient care quality, and support healthy aging. Linda Lušić Kalcina, PhD, presented the solution on behalf of her team.
Third place was secured by the Dokto.hr team with a web application for fast and easy searching of health services and appointment booking. The app aims to simplify the connection between patients and providers, reducing public dissatisfaction and the burden on healthcare staff. Assistant Professor Martina Šoljić, PhD, presented the solution on behalf of her team.
Finally, the researchers expressed great satisfaction with their participation in the NetHub Research program. Antonija Peshevski, a member of the Dokto.hr team, noted that the individualized approach and flexibility meant the most to them, allowing them to achieve concrete results through small, manageable steps.
You can see a glimpse of the Demo Day atmosphere in our photos, and stay tuned for more information on NetHub Catalyst very soon! 😊