A significant research project with the potential to improve the detection and diagnoses of abdominal afflictions will be undertaken at University of Beira Interior Medical (UBI Medical) as a result of Empowered Startups’ HQA Visa Program. Entrepreneur and investor Çağatay Çivici has signed an R&D agreement with UBI Medical to develop a hybrid system that analyses abdominal scan images for various clinical conditions and control groups using Artificial Intelligence. The pact further fortifies the strong partnership between Empowered Startups and University of Beira Interior (UBI) and paves the way for an innovative project that aims to improve patient outcomes and alleviate current bottlenecks in the detection and diagnostic process.
Computed tomography (CT) is generally accepted in diagnosing and treating injuries and diseases of the abdominal organs as it can provide more detailed information about the organs and structures than the standard abdominal X-ray. However, access to an experienced physician needed to assess CT scans is limited in many environments. Developing a hybrid system that intelligently combines artificial intelligence solutions and mathematical models to accurately analyze abdominal scans and transcribe radiology reports will reduce the workload of specialist physicians and increase their productivity.
Primed for Portugal
“Working with Empowered Startups for my HQA Visa was an absolute pleasure. Their expertise and attention to detail made what could have been an overwhelming process smooth and straightforward,” remarked Çivici following the signing.
Çağatay Çivici“From the initial consultation to the final submission, their team provided invaluable guidance and professional support, ensuring every aspect of my application was meticulously prepared. I highly recommend Empowered Startups for anyone navigating the complexities of the HQA process.”
In addition to his accomplishments as an entrepreneur and investor, Çivici began his career as a software engineer. After graduating from Bilkent University Computer Science in 2005, he worked in his native Turkey and the United Kingdom for successful companies such as Visa. In 2012, he founded PrimeTek, a software company that specializes in development tools for other global software companies to improve their performance and speed up development processes. and the tools the company has created have reached more than 150 million downloads worldwide. Çivici has since founded multiple startups, including Present PrimeTek, a technology company that builds user interface libraries that are used all around the world.
Increasing Investment and Innovation
This is the second R&D project at UBI Medical in the past three weeks to be facilitated by Empowered Startups, which has delivered 80 transnational entrepreneurs to Portugal through its HQA Visa Program, resulting in over €4.8 million of direct investment to the country. Earlier this week, Empowered added a 15th higher education institution to its network of Portuguese partners as it continues to improve regional economic development and territorial cohesion throughout the country. The only government-endorsed delivery partner of the HQA Visa Program, Empowered Startups is committed to facilitating at least 25 projects and high potential founders to each of 10 Portuguese universities and polytechnics in the span of 36 months.
