The Institute on Robotics and Information and Communication Technologies (IRTIC) is participating in the AI4HealthyAging project, a solution based on artificial intelligence (AI) that will enable early detection and rapid action in neurological, motor and degenerative diseases resulting from ageing. The role of the research institute in the initiative, formed by a consortium of 15 entities led by Capgemini Spain, focuses on the protection of the data used.

The initiative is part of the R&D Missions in Artificial Intelligence 2021 programme of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation and forms part of the Digital Spain 2025 agenda and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy. It will be financed by the European Union through the Next Generation EU funds and has a budget of 12.5 million euros.

The intelligent system will provide an early prognosis during the follow-up of patients with heart failure and stroke by designing and building AI algorithms. One of the challenges facing the consortium is the cumulative comorbidity burden and complex clinical management.

In addition, this AI system will support decision-making for elderly patients with heart failure and/or stroke. Other diseases such as sarcopenia, Parkinson's disease and hearing loss, among others, will also be analysed as part of the project.

"Collaboration between public and private entities in healthcare is becoming increasingly common when it comes to harnessing the full potential of data ecosystems," said Daniel Iglesias, Managing Director of Capgemini Engineering in Spain. "The creation of this consortium with public institutions and leading companies in various fields immerses us in an exciting journey that has as its final destination to help the longest-living population with neurological, motor and degenerative diseases, through Artificial Intelligence", he points out in this regard.

Iglesias adds, "we feel very fortunate to have been selected as the project with the highest funding. This demonstrates our strong positioning, not only in the field of AI, but also as a global, innovative and sustainable R&D engineering partner.

The consortium, led by Capgemini, is made up of a total of 15 organizations and entities representing the industrial and healthcare sectors, including the Instituto Tecnológico de Aragón, Instituto Cajal (CSIC), Instituto Aragonés de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya - BarcelonaTech (UPC), Universitat de València, Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Spanish Red Cross, Fundación Andaluza para la Investigación y Gestión del Conocimiento en Otorrinolaringología (FAIGESCO), Bitbrain, Podoactiva, Technaid, INNTEGRA and Starlab.