Research into strategic technologies for home hospitalisation
STEP2HAD (HOME CARE DIG_TECH) is a collaborative project approved under the CDTI’s INNTERCONECTA STEP 2025 call for proposals, , which brings together innovation, artificial intelligence, health and social care to develop new tools for prediction, prevention and improving people’s quality of life in the field of HADO (Home Hospitalisation).
Period: November 2025 – December 2027
Total budget: €2,152,266.72
Balidea budget: €490,119.45
Project description
Home Hospitalisation (HADO) is expanding, driven by an ageing population, the rise in chronic conditions and the need to optimise healthcare resources. In 2024, the global HADO market reached 302,220 million dollars, and is forecast to double by 2032. In Spain, home care services generated 2,360 million euros in 2023, growing at an annual rate of 5.4%.
This alternative model offers personalised and cost-effective care, which is essential in the face of growing demand for healthcare.
Digital STEP technologies, such as AI, advanced connectivity, navigation and autonomous systems, present an opportunity to transform HADO into a more efficient and proactive system. These tools make it possible to monitor the patient’s condition and anticipate complications, although scientific output in this field remains limited.
The HADO model, which is based on hospital resources adapted for use in the home, has proven to be safe, effective and well regarded by patients and carers. However, it faces challenges such as the late detection of adverse events, a shortage of healthcare staff and the emotional strain on carers. The incorporation of advanced technology is key to overcoming these barriers and expanding the model’s reach.
STEP2HAD addresses these challenges by developing innovative digital solutions and a smart data ecosystem that will power advanced predictive models. Particular attention will be paid to the wellbeing of carers, integrating AI systems to assess and improve their mental health, as well as working with biomarkers, voice, imagery and contextual data. A pilot study will evaluate the technologies in real-world settings.
Partners and collaborators
The STEP2HAD consortium has been formed in accordance with criteria of scientific and technological excellence, multidisciplinarity and complementarity, comprising two large companies and three SMEs, alongside five leading research organisations. All of them have previously collaborated on other initiatives.
Geographically, two autonomous communities are involved: Galicia and Valencia, which share a common approach and growth strategy within the healthcare sector.
All these companies have a proven track record in the development and implementation of technologies in this field. It is worth noting that, in line with the STEP Regulation, collaboration between large companies and SMEs has been encouraged in order to strengthen the Union’s overall capacity to improve its position in a strategic sector such as digital health.
On the side of large companies, participants include DOMUSVI, a leading social and healthcare organisation at both national and international level, as well as CARE TECH, a company specialising in the design and development of telecare solutions, remote monitoring and social and healthcare software. On the SME side, BALIDEA, INSATI and ISECO have extensive experience in designing disruptive solutions in the health sector, with a proven commitment to open innovation (business, academia, public administration, individuals), and are using this project to boost the competitiveness of SMEs.
Participating Public Research Organisations:
Fundación Pública Galega Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela (FIDIS)
Fundación pública andaluza para la Investigación de Málaga en Biomedicina y Salud - Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Málaga (FIMABIS-IBIMA)
Centro Tecnolóxico de Comunicacións de Galicia (GRADIANT)
Instituto de Biomecánica de Valencia (IBV)
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)
Universidad de Vigo (UVIGO)
Balidea’s role in STEP2HAD
Balidea’s overall objective
To research and develop an intelligent agent based on multimodal language models with reasoning and predictive capabilities, designed for integration into complex clinical environments. This agent will be capable of assisting with decision-making by processing heterogeneous information (clinical data, sensory data, text, speech and images), thereby contributing to more proactive, predictive, personalised and efficient home care.
Specific objectives
To investigate strategies and methodologies for integrating multimodal reasoning large language models (LLMs) into highly complex contexts.
To design and train AI models that can predict adverse events such as health deterioration or readmissions to hospital.
To develop new criteria for the semantic interoperability of HADO data to enable its reuse for secondary purposes and its integration into regional healthcare data lakes and the EHDS.
Grant
Project funded by the CDTI.
With the support of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Funded by the European Union.
This project has received funding from the CDTI through the 2021–2027 ERDF under the Innterconecta STEP Regional Consortia grant programme.