A recent in-person Showcase Event of Smart D8, a pioneering population health demonstrator, marked a significant step forward in enhancing health and well-being for Dublin 8’s diverse population of 45,000. This collaborative initiative brings together industry experts, academic institutions, healthcare providers, public organisations, and citizens, creating a synergistic platform to foster innovation and health improvement in urban settings.
By connecting citizens and service providers with innovation partners and funding opportunities, Smart D8 is not only addressing current health challenges but also paving the way for future advancements in the sector.
The ADAPT Centre is collaborating closely with Smart D8 and this partnership aims to progress the Smart D8 programme into a world-class ‘Smart Health and Community Well-being’ testbed. This testbed serves as a fertile ground for research and development, offering the unique capability to locally test products and services, thereby accelerating the translation of innovations into real-world applications.
The event was opened by the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Daithí de Róiste, as part of Ireland’s National Public Service Transformation Week 2023. The event featured an array of key speakers from the Smart D8 programme, each contributing valuable insights into the future of health and community well-being.
A highlight of the event was the presentation by Dr Aphra Kerr from the ADAPT Centre at Maynooth University. Focusing on data innovation and digital ethics, Dr Kerr shed light on the importance of multi-stakeholder collaboration and engaged research pathways. Her talk emphasised the need for embedding data governance and digital ethics best practices in pilot projects and innovation initiatives, underscoring the significance of co-creating and sharing resources within the wider ecosystem of partners.
Smart D8 continues to evolve and is set to demonstrate the profound impact of combining diverse expertise for the common goal of improving health and well-being in urban communities.
For more information on Smart D8 and its initiatives, please visit their website.(www.smartd8.ie)
