Summary
- Profile Type
- Research & Development Request
- POD Reference
- RDRRO20240314005
- Term of Validity
- 14 March 2024 - 14 March 2025
- Company's Country
- Romania
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
- Targeted Countries
- All countries
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General information
- Short Summary
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The idea of the project centers on leveraging Virtual Reality (VR) technology to enhance depression prevention.
By harnessing VR technology, the application developed during the project will provide an accessible, engaging and stigma-free way for individuals to engage in preventive measures against depression.
By combining the expertise of the partners (VR, Mental Health, Public Health, Healthy Lifestyle), a holistic approach is envisioned, ensuring effective impact for the user and society. - Full Description
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In the frame of the THCS call, the Romanian innovative start-up specialised in VR, is looking to develop a Preventive Tool, a VR application that utilizes immersive simulations to provide stress management and reduction techniques, aiming to lower the incidence of depression among users.
The project aims to provide a proactive tool for stress management and depression prevention, accessible to users worldwide. By simulating real-life scenarios and environments where users can practice stress-reduction techniques and engage in evidence-based psychological practices, the application seeks to lower the incidence of depression and enhance overall mental well-being.
Objectives:
● Develop a Preventive Mental Health Tool: To create a VR application that employs immersive simulations for stress management and reduction, aiming to mitigate the risk factors associated with the onset of depression.
● Incorporate Evidence-based Psychological Practices: Utilize mindfulness, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and other proven approaches to provide users with effective strategies for managing stress and preventing depression.
● Enhance Accessibility to Mental Health Support: Offer a stigma-free, engaging solution that transcends geographical, economic, and social barriers, making preventive mental health care universally accessible.
The VR Depression Prevention Application stands at the intersection of technology and mental health care, representing a forward-thinking approach to depression prevention. By offering an engaging, accessible tool for stress management, this project aspires to make a meaningful contribution to global mental health, for increased access to mental health services and contributing to the reduction of the global burden of depression. - Advantages and Innovations
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Depression is a common mental disorder affecting more than 264 million people worldwide, regardless of age, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). It’s characterized by persistent sadness, loss of interest, and a lack of ability to perform daily activities for 14 days or more. Moreover, depression contributes significantly to the global burden of disease and is a major factor in suicide and ischemic heart disease. In response to this global health concern, we propose the development of a Virtual Reality (VR) application designed to reduce stress, a major contributing factor to depression, and to prevent the onset of depressive episodes through immersive and interactive experiences.
The immersive nature of VR can uniquely simulate real-life situations and environments for practicing stress-reduction techniques, which have been shown to lower the risk of developing depression. - Stage of Development
- Concept stage
- Sustainable Development Goals
- Goal 3: Good Health and Well-being
- IPR description
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They are seeking partners with specialized expertise:
1. Mental Health
2. VR and Software Development
3. Healthy Lifestyle
4. Health Technology Research (HTR)
5. Public Health
Partner Sought
- Expected Role of a Partner
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The Romanian company is looking for clinics, research centers or any other health entities specialised on:
● Mental Health: Psychologists and therapists will ensure the application’s activities are based on evidence-based practices for stress reduction and depression prevention. This team will be crucial in integrating therapeutic approaches that are both effective and safe for users
● VR and Software Development Team: The Romanian start-up specialised in this area will select another partner with expertise in VR technology and software engineering. Together, they will create immersive and interactive environments tailored to stress reduction
● Healthy Lifestyles: Professionals with expertise in physical activity, nutrition, and overall wellness will contribute to integrating lifestyle interventions into the VR experience. These interventions can be geared towards encouraging habits that have been shown to reduce stress and improve mental health, such as regular exercise, healthy eating, and adequate sleep
● Health Technology Research (HTR): Researchers and innovators in health technology will be involved to ensure the application is grounded in the latest scientific research and incorporates cutting-edge technologies for health improvement. HTR specialists will focus on evaluating the efficacy of the VR application through rigorous testing and research methodologies, ensuring it meets the highest standards of health technology innovation
● Public Health: To ensure the application contributes to broader public health goals, public health experts will be consulted. They will help in strategizing the deployment of the application to reach diverse populations, including underserved communities, and in evaluating its impact on public health metrics related to depression and mental well-being.
The eligible countries and regions to apply for the call are mentioned in the Guidelines (Annex I).
https://www.thcspartnership.eu/funding/pre-announcement-of-the-second-joint-transnational-call.kl - Type and Size of Partner
- SME 11-49SME 50 - 249R&D InstitutionOther
- Type of partnership
- Research and development cooperation agreement
Call details
- Framework program
- Health
- Call title and identifier
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THCS - Transforming Health and Care System
- Submission and evaluation scheme
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Submission will be online
- Anticipated project budget
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250.000 Euro / partner country
- Coordinator required
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No
- Deadline for EoI
- Deadline of the call
- Web link to the call
- https://www.thcspartnership.eu/
Dissemination
- Technology keywords
- 01004001 - Applications for Health06001013 - Medical Technology / Biomedical Engineering
- Market keywords
- 05005018 - Medical Physics, Physiology05010003 - Patient rehabilitation & training05007006 - Computer-aided diagnosis and therapy05007007 - Other medical/health related (not elsewhere classified)02007012 - Medical/health software
- Sector Groups Involved
- Digital
- Targeted countries
- All countries