Europe is seeing a surge in AI-powered healthcare innovation, with startups leading the charge in transforming patient care, diagnostics, and treatment
A considerable part of this change is Tucuvi, a Spanish health tech company that’s making massive changes with its groundbreaking voice-based AI platform.
Spain’s Tucvi leads with voice-based AI innovation.
Tucuvi recently became the first company in Europe to earn Class IIb medical device certification for a voice-based AI solution. The startup developed LOLA, a conversational AI assistant designed for remote patient monitoring. This milestone marks a significant step forward for AI integration in clinical care, as LOLA enables healthcare professionals to deliver safe, reliable, and efficient care to patients at home.
Backed by ISO 13485 certification and supported by EIT Health programmes, Tucuvi’s journey reflects the growing strength of Europe’s AI health ecosystem. Its success is critical as Europe works to build global competitiveness in digital health amid rapid technological change and increasing pressure to innovate.
A skills gap that needs attention
A new report released by EIT Health and EIT Digital highlights a pressing challenge: a significant AI skills gap across Europe. The report urges immediate investment in upskilling and interdisciplinary education to ensure Europe remains competitive in AI healthcare applications. It emphasises the importance of combining technical know-how with soft skills such as communication, regulation awareness, and healthcare-specific knowledge.
Tucuvi is a clear example of how this combination of skills can drive impactful innovation. Its success has been accelerated by a strong foundation in health sector expertise, as well as strategic guidance and mentoring through EIT Health’s accelerator programmes. These programmes bridge the gap between academia, business, and clinical practice, creating an environment where innovation can thrive.
A continental wave of AI-driven health innovation
Tucuvi is not alone. Startups across Europe are increasingly using artificial intelligence to improve diagnostics, improve patient care, and streamline healthcare services. Many of these startups are part of the broader EIT Health ecosystem, which provides multi-stage support ranging from early ideation to international market entry.
One notable example is BrainTrip, a Maltese startup that has developed the NeuroAI platform. This system uses EEG data to perform fast, non-invasive cognitive assessments. Its core product, the BrainTrip Dementia Index (CogniScore), has approximately 95% diagnostic accuracy in just 30 minutes, far quicker than traditional methods. With over 2,000 tests already completed, BrainTrip is rapidly expanding across Europe, supported by EIT Health in areas such as clinical integration and regulatory strategy.
Building a competitive and ethical AI future
The rise of startups like Tucuvi and BrainTrip shows a bigger shift in Europe’s approach to healthcare innovation. These companies are not only meeting high regulatory standards but are also focusing on ethical, patient-centric design. Their momentum supports the recent findings from the AI Skills and Occupations report, which calls for a united European strategy to combine technical excellence with responsible implementation.
Europe’s healthcare future will be shaped by how well it uses this new wave of innovation.
