University of Maribor (UM), Slovenia’s second-largest public university, is hosting approximately 15,000 students across 17 faculties and is supported around 1,800 employees. Its commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration and innovation is exemplified by the HUMADEX Group from the Laboratory for Digital Signal Processing within the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, that is actively involved in Certain.
HUMADEX is a pioneering research team that bridges technical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, with contributions from the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science and the Faculty of Arts’ Department of Psychology. Their research focuses on exploring the dynamic interplay between humans and machines, emphasizing artificial intelligence, human-centered design, and ethical considerations in technology adoption. The group’s work is particularly impactful in healthcare, addressing critical challenges through innovative solutions. By integrating expertise from engineering, computer science, psychology, and social sciences, HUMADEX tackles pressing global issues in healthcare, education, and sustainable development. Their collaborative projects are distinguished by cutting-edge methodologies and a steadfast commitment to ethical innovation. HUMADEX is shaping technologies that are not only functional but also inclusive and socially responsible.
What is your organization’s role in the project? What unique contribution does it bring to the team?
With significant experience in living lab methodology, UM is leading WP7 Pilots to experiment tools and certification, and is so responsible for structuring, deploying, and evaluating pilot experiments to validate the project’s technological and scientific developments. The key objectives include defining the exact scope and requirements for each pilot, implementing a co-creation and co-design methodology, organizing and operating pilots, evaluating their success based on measurable KPIs, and assessing stakeholder, societal, environmental, and socioeconomic impacts. WP7 also aims to identify policy and operational risks and provide guiding policy recommendations. UM also leads Pilot 2 focusing on the health domain (Digital Support Systems for Early Diagnosis and Monitoring of Childhood Psychiatric Disorders). In the pilot, UM is pioneering digital support systems for early diagnosis and monitoring of childhood psychiatric disorders, drawing on the successes of previous projects such as Horizon Europe’s SMILE and HosmartAI. Employing a decentralised approach, the system integrates various components, including chatbot-driven pre-psychiatric interviews, a socially assistive robotic assistant for clinic interviews, an eXplainable AI (XAI) based expert system for risk assessment, and a Medical IoT System for gathering physiological biomarkers from patients’ everyday environments. With this work, UM is heavily involved in the technical development via WP4 and WP5, ensuring robust integration of artificial intelligence and IoT systems into healthcare practices.
How do you think CERTAIN will contribute to the Artificial Intelligence landscape in Europe?
The University of Maribor’s contributions to artificial intelligence will significantly enhance Europe’s AI landscape by pioneering innovative applications in healthcare, particularly in mental health diagnostics and monitoring. By integrating cutting-edge technologies, this work aligns with European goals of improving healthcare outcomes and promoting ethical AI adoption. This supports Europe’s vision of technological sovereignty and digital transformation, ensuring sustainable innovation and equitable access to AI tools. Overall, these efforts strengthen Europe’s position as a leader in AI innovation while fostering responsible and inclusive technological advancements.