Press release. SaludONDigital Community, community of professionals specialized in collaborative digital health innovation; Cognizant, a global technological services company for the digital transformation of companies, and transForma Partnering, a consulting firm specialized in business strategy, have launched a joint initiative in Spain with the aim of identifying the best national projects in which to apply technology to improve the lives of patients and transform the field of health.
The call, aimed at health professionals, researchers, startups and entities in the sector, has received around 40 proposals, of which five have been selected as finalists. These projects will be accompanied by this consortium and will have support in the search for financing to facilitate their start-up and scalability in the health system.
“This initiative not only recognizes the existing talent in the field of digital health, but also gives the selected projects the possibility of becoming scalable and sustainable solutions. At SaludONDigital we want digital innovation to reach clinical practice and benefit patients as soon as possible”says Xavier Olba, coordinator of SaludONDigital.
“Our commitment is to use technology to solve some of the most urgent challenges of the health system. These five projects demonstrate that health innovation in Spain is more alive than ever and that, accompanied by adequate support, it can generate a real impact on the lives of patients”points out Carlos Vela, head of Health Science at Cognizant.
“For these innovation initiatives to have a real and sustainable impact, they have to find an economic model that provides value not only to users, but also to the health system and the entities that are going to finance the creation and maintenance of the service. transForma Partnering contributes its knowledge of innovation and financiers to the selected projects”afirma Oriol Bes, AI & Innovation partner de transForma Partnering.
Los five finalist projects They address relevant clinical challenges through innovative solutions based on artificial intelligence, digital platforms and remote monitoring models. Below are details:
- Tremor Assistant: AI for the differential diagnosis of tremor – Hospital Universitario Infanta Sofía (Madrid). Tremor Assistant is an artificial intelligence-based solution designed to improve the differential diagnosis of different types of tremor, such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease. The system analyzes parameters of the patient’s writing, detecting characteristic patterns of each disorder. Currently, up to 50% of people with tremor receive erroneous diagnoses, which translates into inadequate treatments and higher healthcare costs. Tremor Assistant provides an affordable, fast, and scalable tool that reduces the need for costly testing, improves the patient experience, and supports healthcare system sustainability.
- Digital Assistant for Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease – Niño Jesús University Children’s Hospital (Madrid). This application is aimed at children and adolescents with Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis or unclassified colitis. Its objective is to improve adherence to treatment, facilitate clinical follow-up and provide educational and emotional support to both the patient and their families. The tool integrates medication reminders, clinical data collection, adapted information and an alert system. It contributes to improving quality of life, reducing relapses and strengthening family autonomy, with the possibility of extending to other pediatric chronic pathologies.
- WebIDE: platform for information and participation of cancer patients in research – OSI Bilbao Basurto / IIS Biobizkaia (Bilbao). WebIDE is a digital platform that offers personalized and updated information on studies and clinical trials relevant to cancer patients, encouraging their active participation in research. It includes an AI-based virtual assistant, new opportunity alerts, and an anonymous community space. It contributes to patient empowerment, improves access to therapeutic alternatives and reinforces involvement in research projects. This initiative is developed as a pilot test, aligned with the actions of the Basque Health Pact, with the aim of evaluating its subsequent scalability.
- Rhythm: remote monitoring for anticoagulated patients – Hospital de Sant Pau (Barcelona). Ritmo is a mobile application and web platform designed to improve adherence to direct oral anticoagulant treatment, essential to prevent preventable strokes. In Spain, there are around 100,000 strokes per year and one million people on anticoagulant treatment. The system offers smart reminders via app, automatic calls or voice assistants, and allows direct connection with the hospital for remote monitoring. It promotes prevention, reduces hospital admissions and optimizes health resources.
- Early screening for Chronic Kidney Disease – Family and Community Nursing Association of Catalonia (AIFiCC). The project proposes a screening program in pharmacies for the early detection of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in people over 60 years of age, supported by digital tools and AI. CKD affects 13–15% of the population and is one of the main causes of mortality projected for 2050. Screening through pharmacies and intelligent digital referral allows action in the initial phases, avoiding serious complications and reducing health and social costs, following the example of successful programs such as colon cancer screening.
A boost to national health innovation
The joint initiative of Comunidad SaludONDigital, Cognizant and transForma Partnering reflects the commitment to accelerate the development of digital solutions that transform the healthcare system and improve patient care. The selected projects stand out for their clinical impact, their patient-centered approach and their potential for scalability. In the next phase, Cognizant will offer specialized technical support for the development of these solutions, while SaludONDigital and transForma Partnering will collaborate in the search for financing that allows their validation and implementation in the Spanish health system.
