Hemco d.o.o. has started the implementation of the “SafeStride” project
IP.1.1.03.0008
Funded by the European Union

On December 30, 2024, Hemco d.o.o. commenced the implementation of the “SafeStride” project, which is being carried out in accordance with the rules of the Call for Proposals for the award of non-repayable grants titled “Strengthening Strategic Partnerships for Innovation in the Process of Industrial Transition” under the Integrated Territorial Programme 2021–2027.

The responsible authority is the Ministry of Regional Development and European Union Funds, and the Implementing Body is the Croatian Agency for SMEs, Innovation and Investments (HAMAG-BICRO).

• Project beneficiary: Hemco d.o.o.

• Total project value: EUR 4,370,856.09

• EU co-financing amount: EUR 2,999,999.46

• Implementation period: 30 December 2024 – 29 December 2027

• Contact person: Slobodan Mihalj

The objective of the project is to validate SafeStride – an intelligent dual-use wearable system – at laboratory level and subsequently in a relevant and operational environment. The system is designed to detect critical injuries, monitor the vital parameters of professional service personnel, and enhance situational awareness during tactical, rescue, crisis, and similar operations.

The system consists of two mutually compatible and technologically complementary products: SafeStride Sentinel and SafeStride IntelliVest. Each product features functionalities tailored to address the specific needs of different end-user groups, while together they form a comprehensive and universally applicable system.

The project is implemented collaboratively by a four-member consortium: Hemco d.o.o. as the applicant, Ignit Group d.o.o. and T3M d.o.o. as business partners, and the University of Applied Sciences in Karlovac as the research and higher education partner. The project duration includes 26 months of industrial research and 10 months of experimental development.

The project comprises the following activities:

• A1 Research of textile technologies suitable for the design of a smart garment

• A2 Development of the technological concept for injury recognition

• A3 Research of methods for collecting, interpreting, and transmitting data within a wearable vital signs monitoring device

• A4 Experimental development and integration of final product prototypes and demonstration in a real environment

• A5 Experimental development and demonstration of a critical injury detection subsystem

• A6 Experimental development and demonstration of a wearable computer system and sensor network

• A7 Feasibility study

• A8 Intellectual property protection

• A9 Promotion of horizontal principles

• Project management

• Communication and visibility

The implementation of the planned activities will result in:

• Prepared technical and technological documentation for both products, including design, construction, and technical documentation

• Developed low-level and integrated prototypes with embedded electronic components, including completed laboratory and operational testing

• Defined and implemented data acquisition architecture, developed and validated detection system, and trained machine learning model

• Conducted laboratory and operational system functionality testing

• Integrated and optimized product prototypes, documented testing results, and demonstration in a relevant environment

• Development of two innovative products within the regional value chain of Pannonian Croatia, in the priority niche of Dual-Use Manufacturing

• Completed feasibility study

• Full implementation of the project in compliance with all relevant regulations

More information is available at:
https://eufondovi.gov.hr/

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