The 2024 FINA theme was “Digital Health” and the prize was awarded to four researchers from Nordic countries – Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia:
Maarit Wirkkala – University of Gävle, Sweden
Maarit Wirkkala is currently a doctoral candidate in digital health and aspects of care quality and occupational health at the University of Gävle in Sweden. Her current research project deals with digital care chains in healthcare through a study of care consumption, care quality, work environment, and well-being.Saija Simola – Aalto University, Finland
She worked as a software engineer developing eHealth services for the public health care sector until she started her doctoral studies in 2022 at Aalto University. Her research interests comprise improving the usability of eHealth services focusing on patients and especially vulnerable people.Georgi Džaparidze – University of Tartu, Estonia
Dr. Elise Klæbo Vonstad – Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway
In late September 2024, the Nordic French Institutes organized a week-long scientific mobility to the Paris and Normandy regions for Ms. Wirkkala (Sweden), Ms. Simola (Finland) and Mr. Dzaparidze (Estonia). During five days, they visited prominent laboratories, research institutes, and universities, where they engaged with French researchers, explored promising digital health initiatives, and fostered new collaborations.
Sija Samoa, Georgi Dzaparidze (Estonia) and Maarit Wirkkala (Sweden), in front of the University of Caen in September 2024.
Photo: Julie Quesnel
FINA continues to celebrate the achievements of young researchers working within Nordic institutions and aims to enhance scientific and cultural ties between France and the Nordic countries. This year’s research trip included presentations on France’s ambitious digital health strategy, which is part of the France 2030 investment plan. This proactive acceleration strategy aims to mobilise all the stakeholders in the digital health sector by deploying financial resources for training, equipment and experimentation, and by supporting excellence in the imaging sector and the development of new digital uses in healthcare.
Visits to key institutions and programmes like the Institut Pasteur, INSERM, ARS Paris, PEPR Digital Health, and the University of Caen were organised for the laureates, allowing them to forge links and form collaborations with their French counterparts.
Maarit Wirkkala, the Swedish laureate whose research involves care quality, patient safety and work environment for healthcare staff when traditional care transforms into digital care.
Picture: Saija Simola
A catalyst for sharing knowledge and practices
The FINA Prize gathers researchers with profiles that may differ in terms of nationality, subjects covered or training received. This mix of approaches in a common field leads to some interesting exchanges and is a great way of discovering new methods and techniques.
At UNICAEN, Saija Simola (Finland) was able to test virtual reality (VR) glasses that are used to measure older adults’ cognitive abilities.
Picture: Maarit Wirkkala
A boost for cooperation
Through the various meetings organised during the trip in France, the FINA prize represents a real opportunity to build up a network of peers with whom to collaborate in the future.
Travel reports of the researchers are also available on the website.