From 7 to 10 September 2026, SmartCHANGE joins the 17th HEPA Europe Conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia, represented by our partners from the University of Ljubljana (ULJ), Jamk University of Applied Sciences (JAMK), and the University of Porto (UPORTO). It is the second time SmartCHANGE participates in HEPA Europe, after our involvement at HEPA 2024 in Dublin.
About the event
Organised by HEPA Europe and the National Institute of Public Health of Slovenia, in collaboration with WHO/Europe, the 17th HEPA Europe Conference takes place in Ljubljana under the theme "Green Pathways to Health: Integrating Green Spaces and 24-Hour Movement Behaviours for Combating NCDs". Ljubljana is a natural choice for this edition: compact, walkable, and named European Green Capital in 2016, the city itself is a living example of the principles the conference advocates.
The conference brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and stakeholders to explore how green environments and integrated movement behaviours, such as physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep, can work together to prevent non-communicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and musculoskeletal disorders.
This year's theme resonates directly with SmartCHANGE's mission. NCD prevention sits at the heart of both agendas, with a shared focus on how lifestyle habits shaped in childhood and adolescence determine long-term health outcomes. Green spaces are examined not just as pleasant amenities, but as accessible, equitable environments that can drive behaviour change, reduce sedentary time, and improve sleep, the very behaviours that the SmartCHANGE ecosystem is designed to monitor, predict, and support.
The programme features keynote speakers, symposia, oral sessions, and short pitches, as well as the HEPA Europe annual network meeting and working group sessions. Pre-conference workshops are taking place on 7 September.
SmartCHANGE at the event
SmartCHANGE is present across three sessions throughout the conference.
Pre-conference workshop: 7 September, 14:00–17:00 (CEST)
The Future of HEPA: From SLOfit Data to SmartCHANGE Behaviour
Hall and Lecture Room, Faculty of Law, University of Ljubljana
SmartCHANGE is one of three modules featured in this pre-conference workshop, coordinated by Gregor Jurak (University of Ljubljana). In the SmartCHANGE segment, participants test the AI-supported ecosystem developed by the project to identify NCD risks and design individualised interventions, working through a three-stage comparative simulation.
Starting from traditional clinical data, they progressively incorporate wearable-derived 24-hour movement data before accessing the full SmartCHANGE platform for a comprehensive AI-driven risk assessment. The session closes with a reflection on how the SmartCHANGE solution changed participants' perception of a patient's long-term health risk compared to standard clinical measurements.
The workshop is led by Gregor Jurak, Maroje Sorić, Marina Trkman (ULJ), Tuija Tammelin (JAMK), and José Carlos Ribeiro (UPORTO). To reserve your place, a symbolic participation fee of €25 applies, and you can sign up via the official registration form.
Abstract presentation: 8 September, 11:30–12:40 (CEST)
HappyPlant app in the SmartCHANGE project: utilising AI to support healthy behaviours among Finnish youth, perspectives of primary school students
White Room 2, Grand Hotel Union Eurostars
Presented by Piritta Asunta, Heikki Laaksonen, Anu Kangasniemi, and Tuija Tammelin (JAMK/Likes).
Abstract presentation: 9 September, 9:55–11:05 (CEST)
Using AI-based web tool to support school nurses in promoting physical activity and healthy habits among Finnish children and adolescents, insights from SmartCHANGE
White Room 1, Grand Hotel Union Eurostars
Presented by Tuija Tammelin, Heikki Laaksonen, Anu Kangasniemi, and Piritta Asunta (JAMK/Likes).
Join us in Ljubljana
Want to attend HEPA 2026 and explore the latest in physical activity research, NCD prevention, and AI-driven health tools? Registration is open, secure your spot by 25 August 2026 via the registration form.
Learn more about the full programme on the official website.