UVPATCH
Wearable UV Monitoring Powered by Smart Textiles and Local Innovation
Regional Impact
The project targets three transition regions: Western Macedonia (Greece), Centru (Romania), and Southeastern Bulgaria. These areas face the dual challenge of economic restructuring and fossil fuel phase-out.
COALition strengthens local ecosystems, builds capacity, and helps secure funding, laying the foundation for sustainable growth and job creation in emerging sectors like renewables, hydrogen, and energy efficiency.
Market Context
Coal regions across Europe are under pressure to phase out fossil fuels while preserving economic stability.
Despite their challenges, they also present major opportunities — with estimates of up to 314,000 jobs created through clean energy investments by 2030.
EU policies like the Green Deal, Just Transition Fund, and Hydrogen Strategy support this shift, yet local coordination, strategic planning, and skills development remain key barriers.
Beneficiary
Primary beneficiaries include workers in coal-related industries, regional and local authorities, innovation ecosystem stakeholders, academic institutions, and SMEs in the energy and tech sectors.
Broader beneficiaries include residents of transition regions, future investors, and the extended EU innovation community focused on clean energy and climate neutrality.
Stakeholder Network
COALition is implemented by a diverse consortium of partners from Greece, Romania, and Bulgaria, including public institutions, universities, regional agencies, private companies, and NGOs.
Key members include CERTH (leader), Iceberg Plus, UMFST Târgu Mureș, Sofia University, Mureș County Council, Stara Zagora REDA, and many more.
UVPATCH is a wearable tech solution developed by Iceberg+ and IMT Bucharest, designed to reduce the risk of skin cancer through real-time UV exposure monitoring.
It combines miniaturized UV sensors embedded in swimwear fabrics with a mobile app that provides personalized alerts and recommendations.
The project targets both product innovation and technology transfer, building on Iceberg+’s experience in connecting research, health, and industry.
Regional Impact
Initial testing will be conducted in Brașov County under controlled lab conditions and later extended to outdoor environments. The goal is to validate performance in different climates before scaling.
Iceberg+ is activating its regional innovation infrastructure – including digital innovation hubs (FIT, DIZ, CityInnoHub) – to support ecosystem-level adoption of the product across Romania and beyond.
Market Context
UVPATCH responds to several converging trends: increasing consumer awareness of UV-related health risks, the growing market for personalized healthcare tools, and the need for sustainable wearable technologies.
There are no direct competitors in Romania, and international alternatives are at early-stage prototype levels. The integration of sensors into textiles, focus on low-energy consumption, and alignment with pharma and textile industries position the product for long-term viability.
Beneficiary
- Swimwear and smart textile manufacturers
- Pharmaceutical brands developing sun protection lines
- Health-conscious consumers
- Public health agencies and environmental monitoring bodies
- NGOs and campaigns focused on cancer prevention
Stakeholder Network
- IMT Bucharest – sensor development and testing
- Iceberg+ – technology integration, ecosystem building
- Industry partners – eg: Jolidon, Calzedonia, La Roche Posay, Avène
- EIT communities, EEN, ReNITT
Results
(Short Timeline Yearly)
2024
Prototype development, lab validation
2025
Field testing, app refinement, partner outreach
2026
Tech transfer to textile/pharma partners, pilot production
2027
Market entry & multi-sector integration (e.g. sportswear, agriculture, smart city applications)
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For startups, SMEs, academia, authorities.
For Bold ones.