Test your healthcare innovation – free of charge and risk-free!
- CroAI CroAI
- Sep 23
- 2 min read
When developing an innovation or launching a healthtech startup, the first question isn’t how to reach the market. It’s not even funding. The first obstacle is validating the idea. That’s where we can help.
In digital health, a wrong assumption can mean months of lost work and thousands of euros in wasted investment. That’s why the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Artificial Intelligence for Smart Healthcare and Medicine – AI4HEALTH.Cro offers a pre-investment testing program, free of charge for users thanks to the support of the European Union and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.
What does validation mean when it comes to healthcare?
True validation means testing in real clinical settings, gathering feedback from doctors and patients, running pilot projects in hospitals, or using simulated clinical environments.
In contrast, so-called false validation relies only on assumptions and theory—that something is needed or works—and can lead to costly mistakes.
Validation is about verifying the real value of your innovation:
Does it benefit patients and healthcare professionals?
Is there a genuine need in the market?
Is the healthcare system ready to adopt it?
What does the TBI programme offer?
AI4Health.Cro provides a structured support model that combines research infrastructure, practical expertise, and industry mentors.
Program participants receive:
Mentorship from healthcare, technology, and industry experts
Bootcamp workshops to prepare for market entry
Solution testing in laboratory and simulated environments
Access to leading research institutions and computing resources (HPC, etc.)
Who can apply?
Early-stage startups – looking to confirm that their idea meets the real needs of the healthcare system.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – developing digital solutions, software, or hardware for healthcare and wanting to test them before wider deployment.
Research institutions and public organizations – developing innovative methods, applications, or technologies and aiming to validate them in practice.
Hospitals and healthcare institutions – considering the adoption of new technologies and wanting to validate them in their own environment.
More information on eligibility can be found in the public call here.
Why apply?
Free and risk-free, thanks to EU and national co-funding
Validation in real clinical settings
Faster and safer path to market
Access to mentors and infrastructure you couldn’t secure on your own
Stronger credibility with investors and partners
Apply in only 2 steps!
The process is quick and simple – just two steps:
Fill out our online application form and select “pre-investment testing” under service offerings
After eligibility is confirmed, we begin the collaboration
Proof that the program works
The AI4Health.Cro project consortium, coordinated by the Ruđer Bošković Institute, brings together 15 partners—from technology leaders in digital health, to scientific and clinical institutions, healthcare and public organizations, and business and investment incubators.
Since the program’s launch, we have delivered 96 services through TBI, with 35 more services currently in progress for a total of 38 organizations. Participants include startups, SMEs, hospitals, associations, and research institutes.
The most requested services include:
Proof of concept and feasibility studies
Software usability testing
Pilot testing in clinical environments
If you are serious about bringing your healthcare innovation to market, validation isn’t optional—it’s the first step.
