The "IoT and AI for Frugal Innovation 2024" bootcamp, hosted by the Università Campus Bio-Medico (UCBM) of Rome, brought together experts and students for an intensive program on the application of emerging technologies in resource-constrained environments. Among the distinguished faculty was Dr. Davide Piaggio, representing the University of Warwick.

Dr. Piaggio delivered a session on frugal innovation and contributed a use case for blood pressure estimation using PPG (Photoplethysmography) signals. Together with his PhD student, James Wallace, they led a session on design for 3D printing, with James also serving as a tutor throughout the entire bootcamp.

A special mention goes to Dr. Claudia Peverini and Prof. Leandro Pecchia, two of the masterminds behind this initiative, for their vision and dedication in making the event a success. Special thanks also to the Society & Culture Spotlight, co-led by Dr. Piaggio, for funding a full scholarship that enabled Dr. Gamal Abdulnaser Yahya Al-Kawsi, from Yemen, to attend. Dr. Al-Kawsi expressed his gratitude:

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Society & Culture Spotlight of the University of Warwick for supporting my participation in this incredible opportunity. I recently spent 21 days at the University of Cambridge, engaging in an intensive program focused on AI and IoT for Frugal Innovation. This experience, which included seminars, workshops, and training sessions totaling 120 hours, allowed me to collaborate with experts from academia and industry. The knowledge and insights I gained, particularly in the application of AI and IoT in resource-constrained environments, have been invaluable. I look forward to utilizing these learnings in my future projects."

The event was supported by the Biomedical Engineering Institute at Warwick, where Dr. Piaggio is part of the executive team.

A heartfelt thanks goes to all those involved in the bootcamp, with particular praise for the students, whose enthusiasm and hard work were central to the success of this initiative. Their commitment to learning and innovation is truly commendable, setting a promising path for future breakthroughs in global health technologies.