SmartCHANGE joins the 6th Asia-Pacific Society for Physical Activity Conference (ASPA 2026) in Hong Kong, represented by our partners from Taipei Medical University (TMU), JAMK University of Applied Sciences (JAMK), and the University of Porto (UPORTO).
About the event
Held in Hong Kong under the theme "Bridging Borders: Active Futures for Everyone", ASPA 2026 brings together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from across the Asia-Pacific region to share evidence, build partnerships, and drive real-world impact in physical activity promotion. Hong Kong's unique position bridging the Chinese Mainland and the wider world makes it an ideal setting for this edition's focus on cross-border dialogue and inclusive, connected futures for health.
SmartCHANGE at the event
SmartCHANGE is present at the conference through a dedicated exhibition booth and a full research symposium, bringing together perspectives from three of the project's international feasibility sites.
The symposium, "Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Digital Tools for Active and Healthy Youth: Insights from the International SmartCHANGE Project", chaired by Dr. Tuija Tammelin (JAMK), presents findings from Finland, Taiwan, and Portugal on the development, cultural adaptation, feasibility, and implementation of the SmartCHANGE ecosystem, combining the HappyPlant mobile app with an AI-based Clinical Decision Support tool for healthcare professionals. Three presentations bring complementary insights into how these tools perform across diverse cultural and healthcare settings.
- Dr. Tuija Tammelin (JAMK, Finland) presents findings from the Finnish feasibility study, conducted in schools with eight school nurses and 100 pupils in grades 5 and 8. The study examines how the HappyPlant app and activity trackers can support physical activity counselling in school healthcare, combining AI, behaviour change techniques, and personalised feedback.
- Dr. Shabbir Syed-Abdul (TMU, Taiwan) shares lessons from the participatory co-design workshops conducted in Taiwan, where Participatory Action Research was used to culturally adapt the SmartCHANGE intervention for Taiwan's school and family environments. Four core themes emerged from the process: the need for transparency and trust in AI-generated feedback, shared responsibility across schools, families, and clinics, a preference for empowerment over surveillance, and a need for age- and role-specific personalisation.
- Dr. José Ribeiro (UPORTO, Portugal) presents results from the Portuguese feasibility study, conducted in primary healthcare centres with approximately 100 children aged 6–10 and their families. The study demonstrated successful integration of the SmartCHANGE intervention into routine paediatric primary care, with good adherence, high usability ratings, and positive feedback from both families and healthcare professionals.
Learn more on the official ASPA 2026 website.