Bridging Innovation and Wellbeing: The Thess-AHALL Living Lab Story

As the first Living Lab in Greece, Thessaloniki Action for Health & Wellbeing Living Lab (Thess-AHALL) has been a pioneer in fostering innovation and collaboration since its founding in 2014 by the Lab of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH).

The Story Behind

Previously known as Thessaloniki Active & Healthy Ageing Living Lab, Thess-AHALL is a unique research and innovation hub. It is located in Thessaloniki and serves the region of Central Macedonia in Northern Greece.

Thess-AHALL fosters regional development and sustainability of novel technologies in health and wellbeing. Its focus areas include physical, mental, and social health, as well as Active & Healthy Ageing (AHA) and quality of life.

The Lab employs a citizen-led, participatory approach. This method co-creates solutions that enhance the quality of life for older adults, chronic patients, and other vulnerable groups. By integrating cutting-edge AI, Big Data, and emerging technologies, Thess-AHALL encourages collaborative innovation across various sectors. These sectors include healthcare, urban resilience, and medical education.

Over the years, Thess-AHALL has actively pursued co-creation and co-design of technological solutions. These solutions aim to improve health and social conditions, facilitate independent living and empower both patients and healthcare professionals. 

In close collaboration with academia, the city of Thessaloniki and affiliated entities, Thess-AHALL has engaged in citizen science and participatory research actions within the local ecosystem.

Recent projects

• LIVE IT Promotes digital inclusion for individuals with cognitive disabilities by co-creating user-centered solutions with real end-users.
• ESCAPE4HEALTH Leverages escape rooms for experiential healthcare training. The project co-developed interactive learning scenarios with healthcare professionals and students.
• TOUS-INCLUDE Develops a patient-centered m-health platform for osteoarthritis pain management, co-designed with patients, healthcare professionals, and caregivers.
• DEEP-RAFT Educates doctors, patients, and policymakers on Atrial Fibrillation/Venous thromboembolism (AF/VTE) through interactive content developed collaboratively.
• CAPTAIN H2020 Developed an AI-driven smart home assistant for older adults while initiating the systematic development of the Living Labs panel.
• SISCODE H2020 Tackles ageism through lifelong learning programs for older adults using a Living Lab approach. 
• LifeChamps H2020 Leverages AI and data analytics to improve quality of life for older cancer patients.
• VITALISE H2020 Enhances access to Health & Wellbeing Living Labs for researchers. One of the first projects that introduced Living Labs as Research Infrastructures and initiated the Harmonization of Living Labs.
• URBANOME H2020 Integrates urban health policies through Living Labs.
• PECan, Europe’s first citizen-led Living Lab in cancer research.
• ONCODIR Identifies risk factors associated with colorectal cancer while delivering evidence-based recommendations for prevention.
• COMFORT Advances AI-driven decision support for improved cancer diagnosis and personalized treatment through Living Labs.
• COMFORTage Integrates AI and digital health solutions for proactive age-related disease management by creating two personas, as well as conducting pilots for health and digital literacy using Living Lab methodologies.
• Evolve2Care Enhances HealthTech adoption in transitional care through real-world testing in Living Labs.
• DataPACT Ensures ethical data use in digital health innovation.

Beyond wellbeing

Initially focused on Active & Healthy Ageing, Thess-AHALL now operates as a holistic research ecosystem. It promotes cross-sectoral collaboration with stakeholders across various fields. Since 2022, Thess-AHALL has expanded its focus to include oncology research, the agri-food sector, urban resilience, environmental change, mass communication, and culture. This diverse-sector integration is driving local and regional health policy advancements, transforming Thessaloniki into a real-world testing ground and cross-sectoral Living Lab that addresses health challenges holistically and promotes citizen-driven innovation in health and wellbeing.

Additionally, ThessAHALL leads the activities of the Health & Wellbeing Working Group of ENoLL, advancing the value and impact of Living Labs in the Health & Wellbeing domain while fostering collaborations across the network. It also co-leads the newly established Harmonization Working Group, which aims to define how Living Labs can operate in a harmonized manner while preserving their unique characteristics.