The Nordic Health App Award is a new competition under the Life Science and Health Tech program with the aim to discover and recognize health apps from the Nordic countries and to contribute to a more accessible, personalized, and sustainable healthcare system in line with the Nordic 2030 Health Vision.
An evaluation panel with five experts with Nordic expertise within healthcare, technology and innovation selected five finalists, and the winner was announced as a part of one of Nordic Innovation’s health events at Arendalsuka.
Nordic Innovation's 2030 Health Vision
In 2030, the Nordics will be the most sustainable and integrated health region in the world, providing the best possible personalized health care for all its citizens.
Paindrainer®: a perfect match for the Nordic health vision
The winning app, Paindrainer®, is a self-management device designed for individuals suffering from chronic pain. Through a mobile application users can log their daily activities and pain levels which allows the app’s Artificial Neural Network to identify unique pain triggers. With 95% correct predictions after 20 days, the app offers personalized recommendations to enhance quality of life and alleviate pain.
“Winning this competition feels really great. Not only for me but for the entire team. They have worked effortless for the last five years to try to do something really good for patients in both Scandinavia but also in the US and Europe,” says Erik Frick, CEO at Paindrainer AB.
The app's core features:
- Patient-Centric Approach: Through logging and AI-driven analysis, the app provides insights into daily life adaptations, along with a pain management program comprising articles, exercises, and tasks based on ACT (acceptance commitment therapy)
- Healthcare Integration: The app offers a remote monitoring device for clinics, empowering healthcare providers to observe patient progress
- Unbiased AI Technology: The app's ANN is 100% patient-centric and free from external bias, enabling highly accurate and individualized care
The winning app fits perfectly into the Nordic 2030 Health Vision:
“We are extremely glad that Paindrainer® won. It is a very good app that touches upon several of the issues that we see within the healthcare sector. It also fits very well with the focus areas of Nordic Innovation in supporting and developing new solutions in the Nordics and ensuring that the solutions are exportable,” says Rasmus Malmborg, Head of Program at Nordic Innovation.
His view is supported by Anders Tunold-Hanssen, CEO and Project Manager at the Nordic Interoperability Project AS:
“Paindrainer® fulfills so many of the things that we are looking for within the Nordic health tech industry, however, all five ‘winners’ got very good assessment from the jury. They all showcase the huge potential we have within digital health in the Nordics.”
Five apps made it to the finals
Besides the winning app, another four companies made it to the final round.
The four finalists:
Medanets has developed an app that enhances nursing workflows by integrating with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, reinforcing decision-making, and allowing more time for patient care, underscoring its impact on modern healthcare operations.
SeeWound is a groundbreaking AI-powered mobile application for objective monitoring of hard-to-heal wound healing. Often cited as a significant AI solution in Swedish healthcare, SeeWound stands as an innovative answer to a global healthcare challenge.
Ommej is an innovative app designed to address global mental health challenges, allowing early detection of mental health risks and facilitating efficient intervention. It contributes to societal well-being and economic stability.
Icura offers a digital rehabilitation tool that pairs an app with a motion sensor, providing tailored exercise programs for patients recovering from illness or hospitalization. It encourages patients towards greater independence and improved quality of life, optimizing healthcare resources.
Next stop: the Nordic Digital Health and Evaluation Criteria (NordDEC)
All five finalists won free assessment against the Nordic Digital Health Evaluation Criteria (NordDEC). NordDEC is a fast-track for evaluation and accreditation for digital health products in the Nordics. It was launched by the Nordic Interoperability Project in 2022 with co-funding from Nordic Innovation.
The finalists will also be featured in a showcase booklet highlighting their solutions and experiences with the NordDEC accreditation.
Congratulations to all the finalists and good luck with the accreditation process!
