Open Call for proposals for standard projects: Interreg SI-AT
Project leader UM FHS:
- Prof. dr. Gregor Štiglic
Participants:
- Prof. dr. Gregor Štiglic,
- Doc. dr. Lucija Gosak,
- Doc. dr. Adrijana Svenšek,
- Primož Kocbek,
- Leon Kopitar,
- Tamara Trajbarič,
- Asist. Kasandra Musović
- Aleksandra Lovrenčič.
Partners:
- Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, Austria - leading partner
- Regional Government of Carinthia, Austria - partner
- Black Tusk GmbH, Austria - partner
- European Cultural and technological center Maribor social enterprise, Slovenia - partner
- Centre for health and development Murska Sobota, Slovenia - partner
he programme area faces a common challenge: global warming, which—due to highly similar environmental, urban and rural conditions—has comparable impacts on both the Slovenian (SI) and Austrian (AT) sides of the cross-border region. Urban centres such as Maribor, Ljubljana, Murska Sobota, Graz, Villach and Klagenfurt are increasingly exposed to climate change effects, including heatwaves, severe storms, prolonged pollen seasons, air pollution and extreme weather events, all of which pose significant risks to public health.
The overall objective of the HeLiCC project is to enhance the resilience of the population in the cross-border area to the health impacts of climate change and to promote environmentally and health-conscious preventive behaviour. The project places a strong focus on older adults (60+), who represent one of the most vulnerable target groups in relation to climate-related health risks.
The project is structured around four core pillars:
- systematic monitoring of climate and health-related data,
- development of the HeLiCC mobile application using artificial intelligence to deliver personalised preventive recommendations,
- identification and promotion of so-called “healthy areas” (e.g. parks and natural environments), and
- implementation of a mobile, cross-border awareness-raising campaign (HeLiCC Roadshow).
Within the project, researchers at the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Maribor, are responsible for the development of an artificial intelligence model that will analyse integrated environmental and personal health data in order to identify conditions under which individual health outcomes are optimal in relation to environmental factors.
The innovative character of the project lies in its integrated use of environmental and personal health data, the application of artificial intelligence for preventive health guidance, and a mobile, inclusive approach to public engagement. The project will be jointly developed, piloted and evaluated in both participating countries and will contribute to a healthier, more resilient and climate-adaptive cross-border region.