WHAT

LINK will build on international leaders and shared research interests and resources to create a self-sustainable cooperation ecosystem between three EU institutions in the area of intelligent processing for CVD management for PHC applications in order to create an increased momentum in scientific excellence and international impact, and an intensified continuum in EU participation.

WHY

• Nearly half of all deaths in Europe (48%) are due to CVD. It is the main cause of the disease burden (illness and death) in Europe (23% of all the disease burden).

• Some of the main gaps for PHC system deployment for CVD management are related to infusion of clinical evidence and biomedical knowledge in PHC solutions and with a required new generation of Intelligent Processing algorithms able to move from personal to personalized solutions.

• To close these gaps, EU active research requires a long-lasting coordinated effort in order to increase critical mass and to improve excellence.

• Portugal is a EU region that exhibits low participation in EU funding programs (about 1.14% of FP7 available funding was allocated to Portuguese institutions).

• The University of Coimbra is well positioned to leverage EU participation and scientific excellence of the country in Intelligent Algorithms for PHC for CVD applications.

HOW

LINK will:

• Build an active community of researchers, users and innovators engaged in intelligent computing for PHC, as well as from other relevant disciplines, including policy making, industry and societal organizations.

• Define a research agenda for intelligent processing for CVD management.

• Coordinate with leading international scientific societies in order to increase an internationally leading role in setting the path for international research, innovation and training in intelligent processing for CVD management in PHC.

FOR WHOM

LINK will:

• Deepen in a sustainable way the cooperation links between the University of Coimbra, the Polytechnic University of Valencia and the Polytechnic University of Milano in intelligent algorithms for PHC applications. It will leverage University of Coimbra to play a more active and leading international role in intelligent algorithms for PHC applications, increasing its impact and excellence and widening its participation in EUprograms.

• Provide the international research and industrial community with a research agenda in intelligent processing for CVD management for PHC applications.

• Potentially reinforce EUs leading position in PHC by steering and assuming leading positions as well as contribute to future EU research working programs.

• Provide EU with a scaling-up white book on twinning.

BY WHOM

To achieve the LINK objectives in 36 months, the consortium partners combine world-class academic research expertise in personalized tele-monitoring health systems, medical devices, medical imaging and big bio-data analytics expertise (UCOMB, UPV, POLIMI). In addition the consortium has already received support letters and agreement to integrate the research and innovation forum from leading international scientific societies, academic research institutions, end-user organizations bringing in the stakeholders perspective and key industrial players.