MedTech Odense awards first millions for development of cutting-edge health technology
Every year, approximately 200,000 patients in Denmark undergo an ultrasound examination of the heart in connection with suspected or known heart disease. The need is increasing and is expected to grow in the future due to more patients. This societal challenge requires new solutions. MedTech Odense is therefore awarding a grant of DKK 14 million for a visionary and interdisciplinary project between the University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital. This project will automate the examination process and has the potential to develop cutting-edge health technology with even broader applications in the healthcare system.
While robotics and AI have shown potential in health care, their application in the field of ultrasound examinations of the heart (echocardiography) remains unexplored. The pioneering project DANARC is the first recipient of a grant from MedTech Odense – the first of several grants for projects over the next few years.
DANARC will develop a robot that can scan and diagnose cardiovascular diseases. This automated solution could shorten increasing waiting times and make a difference for patients. Not only in terms of cardiac disease; future versions would be able to scan other organs, such as the liver, intestines and kidneys.
A powerhouse that unites research and technology with clinical needs and businesses
The grant is backed by MedTech Odense – a strategic and binding partnership between the University of Southern Denmark, the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense University Hospital (OUH) and the other hospitals in the region, as well as the City of Odense. By bringing researchers, healthcare professionals and businesses closer together, ideas can be shared and translated into new applied technologies.
Facts about the technology
tool and is undertaken as the first examination in the assessment and management of cardiovascular diseases. The scan shows how the heart muscle and heart valves are working and whether there are any problems.
In DANARC, clinicians and researchers will develop a robot partly to automate the actual examination itself and partly to perform automatic analysis of the images using AI. This requires technological development, a focus on ethical issues and health economics, regulation of medical devices and cooperation with businesses so that the solution can be applied. This will benefit patients, who will experience shorter waiting times and greater flexibility, and the healthcare system, which can free up time for the many examinations with an automated solution.
‘Our support for DANARC clearly underscores MedTech Odense’s strength. We have a unique access to research, clinical facilities and a strong ecosystem of businesses. By joining forces, we succeed in creating interdisciplinary and cutting-edge solutions with outstanding conditions for development, testing and implementation. Also, and not least, they can be scaled and commercialised through cooperation with companies, so that the solutions are implemented and create value in society – for patients nationally and internationally,’ says Jens Ringsmose, Rector of the University of Southern Denmark.
‘The MedTech Odense partnership builds on the highly robust healthcare innovation environment in Southern Denmark. We have been developing it over a number of years, and last week, this effort culminated in the Ministry of the Interior and Health’s decision to establish the new National Centre for Health Innovation in Odense. With funding for the DANARC project, we are now launching the first concrete development project under the auspices of MedTech Odense, and together with upcoming activities, it will create new health technology solutions that can improve the treatment of many patients and ensure that Odense is a leader in health innovation,’ says Bo Libergren, Chairman of the Regional Council of the Region of Southern Denmark.
From clinical needs to applied solutions with growth potential
MedTech Odense supports research and innovation projects with the potential to shape the patient treatments of the future with new health technology in Denmark and globally. In 2025, MedTech Odense will award DKK 14 million to the pioneering project DANARC and DKK 6 million to additional projects, with the anticipation of further funding in the years ahead. The funds can be applied for by employees at the University of Southern Denmark and in the Region of Southern Denmark.
‘We have an ambitious task ahead of us, and thanks to the grant from MedTech Odense, we can seriously turbocharge our project and develop a prototype. We are fascinated by the potential of modern technology to find smart and flexible solutions to health care challenges. Together with a group of skilled experts and businesses, we will develop a robot that can become an important part of the hospitals of the future and significantly improve patient care,’ says Axel Diederichsen, clinical professor at SDU and OUH and one of the main forces behind the pioneering project DANARC.
Contact
Head of MedTech Odense: Søren E. Frandsen
(+45) 6550 1075,
sfr@sdu.dk
Deputy Head of MedTech Odense: Thomas K. Kristensen
(+45) 2371 9724
thomas.kielsgaard.kristensen@rsyd.dk
Axel Diederichsen, Clinical Professor at SDU and OUH
(+45) 4019 1227,
Axel.Diederichsen@rsyd.dk
Facts about the grant to DANARC from MedTech Odense
At the end of last year, the pioneering project DANARC was assessed as part of OUH and SDU’s flagship competition and received a very positive and impressive international rating. Since then, the project has also been evaluated by MedTech Odense’s steering committee with representatives from the Region of Southern Denmark, OUH, SDU and the City of Odense. It was highlighted here as a visionary project that aligns with MedTech Odense’s ambitions to develop, implement and scale new healthcare technology across the entire healthcare system.
The grant from MedTech Odense consists of DKK 7 million from the Region of Southern Denmark from the 2025 budget agreement and DKK 7 million from SDU.