The Sensory Examination Capsule is an innovative and world unique multifunctional device that allows single-point diagnosis of all primary senses. It has been awarded in the 23rd edition of the Polish Product of the Future competition held by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development (PAED) and the National Center for Research and Development (NCRD). The award was presented to Prof. Henryk Skarżyński during the Gala held at the Koneser Centre on June 16, 2021. The commemorative diploma was presented by Przemysław Czarnek, PhD, Minister of Education and Science, and Wojciech Kamieniecki, PhD eng., head of the NCRD.

“The award-winning products and technologies are a showcase of the capabilities of the Polish science and the potential of the Polish enterprise,” – emphasized Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki in his letter to the participants and organizers of the competition. “I am convinced that the awarded projects have a chance to make a name for themselves not only on the domestic but also on the global market, and contribute to the promotion of the Polish brand abroad” – he added.

Dr. Jarosław Gowin, Deputy Prime Minister of Poland, Minister of Development, Labour and Technology, stated that “a lot remains to be done, not at the legislative level, but the level of an attitude shift.” He said that the COVID-19 pandemic “has tragically affected many enterprises, owners and employees, and adversely changed the business environment.”         – We need to look to the future, look at the situation in terms of opportunities. The pandemic is opening up new prospects for the Polish economy – said Premier Gowin.

Prof. Henryk Skarżyńskis idea of the Sensory Examination Capsule was developed within the project: “Integrated system of tools for diagnostics and telerehabilitation of sensory organ disorders (hearing, vision, speech, sense of balance, taste, smell), INNOSENSE,” co-financed by the National Center for Research and Development under the Strategic program “Prevention and treatment of civilization diseases” – STRATEGMED. During the design works, innovative devices, examination procedures, and screening and diagnostic tests were developed. The Capsule enables self-screening for disorders of speech and sense organs (hearing, vision, speech, sense of balance,  smell, taste), which are crucial in human communication. It also allows population screening tests in various age or professional groups. The model of screening and diagnostic tests developed for the Capsule, supported by survey results, significantly increases the precision in sensory disorder detection while minimizing the time needed to perform the tests. Thanks to telemedicine, specialists can conduct consultations, recommend other tests, and oversee rehabilitation processes. 

Meanwhile, Minister Przemysław Czarnek stated that “the activities are undertaken in recent years in the research and development sector. The increase in GDP expenditure on this sector represents a direction that we should keep following, and that will bring benefits.” He also underlined that the Capsule is the genuine product of the future as he presented the award to Prof. Henryk Skarżyński.

Thanking for the award, Prof. Henryk Skarżyński said that communication is fundamental to information acquisition and processing and establishing and maintaining connections between people in the modern world. He also declared readiness to conduct, together with the Minister of Education and Science, the screening test program #5senses: – We hope that we will manage to have the entire population of school-age children examined. It is 3 200 000 pupils at the beginning – added Prof. H. Skarżyński.

The competition is held in three categories: a product of the future by higher education and science institution; a product of the future by an entrepreneur; a joint product of the future by higher education and science institution and an entrepreneur. The entrants, who competed for the Polish Product of the Future titles individually or in cooperation with others, were Polish entrepreneurs and higher education and science institutions. There were 219 products submitted to the current edition of the competition. This is over twice the number of the applications in the previous edition, where domestic innovators submitted 96 products.

The competition is organized by the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development and the National Center for Research and Development under the Ministry of Development, Labour and Technology and the Ministry of Education and Science.

It is worth reminding that it is the second award from the Polish Agency for Enterprise Development. In 2006, the “Kuba Mikro AS” screening audiometer was awarded the “Product of the Future” title in the 10th edition of the “Polish Product of the Future 2006” competition, in the “Choice of the Future” category. 

Photo: source PAED