Meeting in Ireland strengthened international collaboration in developing digital health and social care solutions

The RemoTED project aims to improve social and healthcare services in sparsely populated areas in Finland, Ireland and Iceland.

The project also focuses on strengthening professionals’ digital and technological competences and piloting new solutions. The project has now progressed to a phase where continuous learning training content is being developed and technology pilots are being planned together with local stakeholders.

Partners and associated partners of the RemoTED project gathered in April in Letterkenny, Ireland, where the WiSAR Lab and Technology Gateway at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) hosted the meeting at the CoLab Innovation Center. During the two-day meeting, the project status was reviewed, next steps were agreed, and collaboration was strengthened through in-person discussions.

As part of the meeting, a workshop focusing on AI competences and the implementation phases of new technologies was organised. The workshop also addressed the development of digital skills training in the health and social care sector. It was delivered by experts from the Norwegian Centre for E-health Research, Dr Ove Lintvedt and Professor Rune Pedersen.

– The workshop provided practical examples and tools on how digital services can be introduced in everyday work and how staff competences can be strengthened. The discussion also highlighted both shared challenges and different national perspectives, says Mira Koskenniska, Project Specialist at Lapland University of Applied Sciences.

Ove Lintvedt and Rune Pedersen facilitating the workshop.

During the visit, Michael McBride presented the HUMAN project by ERNACT. The HUMAN project provides examples of how technology can be used to promote more inclusive and accessible healthcare. According to Project Manager Susanna Leskinen, the presentation offered valuable perspectives that align closely with the objectives of the RemoTED project.

The programme also included a visit to the Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) Inishowen unit in Buncrana. CDNT provides multidisciplinary support services for children aged 0–18 with complex needs due to disabilities or developmental disorders. The team includes occupational therapists, physiotherapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists, and social workers. Services are family-centred and include individual support plans, therapy, and parental guidance.

– The visit provided an opportunity to learn about services for children and families in practice and increased understanding of how services are delivered at the local level, Susanna Leskinen explains.

RemoTED consortium group photo with CDNT staff.

At the end of the meeting, participants visited the WiSAR Lab research environment at ATU, where ongoing research and development projects were presented. Participants also had the opportunity to test a virtual reality environment developed to support the wellbeing of older adults in institutional care.

Project team testing VR equipment.

The visit strengthened collaboration within the consortium and promoted cross-border cooperation towards achieving the project’s objectives. Engaging associated partners in the project process supports the implementation of activities in practice and contributes to achieving the project goals.

Project Information

Digital and Technological Social and Healthcare Enhanced Service Delivery in Remote Areas is a project funded by the Interreg Northern Periphery and Arctic (NPA) program for the period 1.2.2025 – 31.1.2028. Lead by Lapland University of Applied Sciences, Karelia University of Applied Sciences, Atlantic Technological University (Ireland), and the University of Iceland (Iceland). The total project budget is 1,496,662.20 €, with NPA funding of 972.830,42 €. Finnish partners co-financing source is by The Regional Council of Lapland (Lapin Liitto).           

From left to right: Nick Timmons (ATU), Fiona Barrett (ATU), Steinunn Ólafsdóttir (University of Iceland), Rune Pedersen (Norwegian Centre for E-health Research), Karla Muñoz Esquivel (ATU), Ove Lintvedt (Norwegian Centre for E-health Research), Susanna Leskinen (Lapland UAS), Jaana Kurki (Karelia UAS), Sanna Ahponen-Käyhkö (Karelia UAS), Suvi Leppänen (Karelia UAS), Henri Perälä (Lapland UAS), Mira Koskenniska (Lapland UAS). Not pictured: Leila Nisula (Lapland UAS) and Louise McBride (ATU).