An application capable of classifying neighborhoods according to their obesogenic index and modeling the impact of possible interventions based on the available budget has won Campus Salud Gandia 2026, held from 30 April to 1 May.
The project, called Saludatos, proposes an innovative tool to support decision-making in public health policies, enabling authorities to prioritise actions in those environments where they can generate the greatest benefit.
The hackathon, promoted by José Millet, head of the EP Analytics group at ITACA-UPV, brought together 14 multidisciplinary teams that worked for more than 30 uninterrupted hours to develop solutions focused on the concept of healthy cities.
As a result, the proposals concentrated on the impact of factors such as obesity and its relationship with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as diabetes.
“The challenge consisted of designing innovative initiatives that would help reduce these risks, using a medium-sized city such as Gandia as a reference and considering health, social and urban variables alike”, highlights José Millet.
Award-winning projects
Alongside Saludatos, the jury recognised other proposals for their potential application. Second prize went to Gandicleta, a project focused on developing the Real Active Mobility Index (IMAR), a tool that analyses the connectivity of cycle lanes, measures their actual use and supports urban planning aimed at sustainable mobility.
Third prize was awarded to Plantagotchi, an initiative that turns educational centers into drivers of health by creating urban gardens and involving students in growing, cooking, and responsible consumption.
The jury also awarded several runners-up prizes. Among them was OnMove, a municipal application based on artificial intelligence that transforms everyday movement into incentives to encourage healthy habits, and Fusion4Good, a tool that analyses exposure to unhealthy environments by neighborhood and estimates its impact on obesity.
Finally, the ITACA-UPV researcher highlighted the high standard of the projects presented, as well as the commitment shown by participants, mentors, and the organizations involved.
“Gandia Health Campus is a leading hub for developing innovative solutions in public health, bringing together multidisciplinary talent to tackle real-world challenges in the health and social care system. In fact, Gandia City Council has committed to analyzing some of the proposals generated during the hackathon to be implemented”, he concludes.
Consolidation of Campus Salud Gandia
Campus Salud Gandia has established itself as a space for fostering young talent. In previous editions (2023, 2024 and 2025), the event brought together hundreds of participants who developed innovative projects noted for their impact and creativity. This format, which combines training, teamwork and direct contact with professionals from the healthcare and technology sectors, has proved to be an effective environment for generating transformative ideas.
The event was organised by the UPV, supported by Gandia City Council and the European Joint Action Prevent NCD, which participated remotely and was responsible for the Joint Action.
It also received collaboration from the Fisabio Foundation, the Gandia Health Department, the Safor Salut programme, the Gandia Tourism and Promotion Chair, the Innovation Chair, Telefónica and the IVIO Chair, as well as companies in the sector such as Laberit, Medicarama, Dextro, ODEC and Mediphealth, the latter two being companies from the La Safor region, based in Beniarjó and Gandia respectively, with a strong international presence.
