Team led by Charissa Roossien secured JTF subsidy for development of a Health Tracker

Dr. Charissa Roossien from the Engineering and Technology Institute Groningen (ENTEG) together with industrial partners Relitech, Relitech Development, Lode, Umaco, ProCare, aXtion, AccelMed North, and researchers from the UMCG and HTRIC has successfully secured a substantial Just Transition Fund (JTF) subsidy of €1.8 million. This collaborative effort, with a total investment of €4,6 million, is aimed at developing and valorizing a cutting-edge health tracker for reliable respiratory and metabolic analysis.

Project focus
The project's primary focus is to empower individuals to maintain optimal health and productivity throughout their careers, mitigating premature dropouts from the workforce. Central to this endeavor is the development and valorization of a Health Tracker—a revolutionary headset equipped with sensors for respiration, metabolism, ECG, and motion analysis. This sophisticated device promises unparalleled accuracy in assessing how physical exertion impacts an individual's capacity to work. Notably, the Health Tracker distinguishes itself by its ability to measure physical load without imposing breathing resistance or restricting movement, ensuring enhanced usability and reliability of measurements.

The Just Transition Fund
The JTF is a European fund for areas most affected by the transition to a green economy. With it, the European Union aims to reduce socio-economic inequalities. The JTF stems from the European Green Deal, the programme for a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. To achieve this transition in the northern Netherlands, 330 million euros have been pledged until 2027. This and next year (2024) several subsidy schemes will be opened.

The JTF has been elaborated by the provinces of Groningen, Drenthe and Friesland, the municipality of Emmen and the Labour Market Table North Netherlands (a public cooperation between the three Northern Labour Market Regions - these are the municipality and UWV - and the three northern provinces). Samenwerkingsverband Noord-Nederland (SNN) implements the JTF grants.