Assistive robotics takes centre stage at the 15th RDI TIC Salut i Social Conference in Vic

The Paranimf of the Universitat de Vic-Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC) has today hosted the 15th RDI TIC Salut i Social Conference. A leading event in the field of innovation applied to social services and health, which this year has focused on assistive and companion robots for people.

The day was inaugurated by the Rector of UVic-UCC, Josep Eladi Baños; the Councillor for Salut of the Vic City Council, Xavier Farrés; and the Director of the TIC Salut i Social Foundation, Joan Guanyabens.

The university’s rector has reviewed major milestones in medicine that have been made possible by the advent of technology in recent years. With this brief look back, Baños emphasised that the spirit of progress and the challenge for all those to come lies in ‘evaluating their effectiveness, how they should complement the work of medical professionals and healthcare in general, and how we can bring them to the majority of the population.’

Along the same lines, the councillor for Salut in Vic has stated that ‘assistive robotics must benefit and contribute to improving the quality of life of people.’ Farrès has emphasised that ‘technology should not replace human interaction, but rather help to improve the care of people and families who need it.’

Finally, the director of the TIC Salut i Social Foundation explained from central Catalonia that ‘we have all the ingredients to make it possible to adopt this technology, and the urgency and absolute necessity of providing better care for people.’ And to make it possible, Guanyabens has insisted that ‘it is necessary to create the conditions to test, evaluate and scale up assistive robotics projects.’

Assistive robots, living with innovation

The session brought together care professionals, managers from the Catalan administration, researchers, entrepreneurs and other sector stakeholders to identify the opportunities posed by the introduction of robotic solutions with artificial intelligence in home and care settings. Participants discussed the potential of this technology to improve people’s quality of life and the efficiency of services, and commented on the barriers encountered in Europe compared with other regions. They also agreed that the use of this technology must be approached from an ethical, person-centred perspective that allows for the maintenance of human care and interaction, whilst at the same time enhancing the capabilities of carers, preserving the autonomy of users and improving their adherence.

The programme has provided an insight into experiences with robots around the world, and has addressed how to adapt these learnings to the demographic reality of Catalonia through networking. Through round-table discussions and live demonstrations, representatives of the industrial sector and the Catalan robotics ecosystem explained the maturity level of robotics in the region, and attendees were able to interact with the exhibition of robots on display in the cloister of the Casa Convalescència in Vic.

As the study “Robotics in Catalonia”, prepared by ACCIÓ and presented in early May, points out, Catalonia has 311 robotics companies, more than double the number it had in 2020. These companies generate a turnover of almost 1 billion euros across various segments and applications, such as the care and health sectors.

15 years of knowledge transfer in Central Catalonia

The event is promoted by the Càtedra of the TIC Salut i Social Foundation and the Universitat de Vic – Universitat Central de Catalunya (UVic-UCC). With fifteen editions, the first five in Girona and the last ten in Vic, the RDI TIC Salut i Social Conference has established itself as a key event for tracking the evolution of technological innovation in the health system and social services in Catalonia, and for promoting its practical application for the benefit of people.

The event has been sponsored by Isern Medical, Group Saltó, Evidenze i NTT Data, and with the collaboration of d’Osona Acció Social, Osonament, Fundació Sant Tomàs, Consorci Hospitalari de Vic, Institut Català de la Salut, Althaia, Fundació Hospital de la Santa Creu de Vic i l’ABS Centelles.

View the images from the event here.