Innovating Women’s Health: How Technology Is Shaping a New Era of Care
The future of women’s health is being rewritten, and technology is a key player in this.
During a recent panel on Technological Advances in Women’s Health held at the Barcelona Technology School campus, experts, innovators, and healthcare leaders came together to explore how digital innovation is driving real change in women’s lives.
As we mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month, this conversation couldn’t be more timely. Beyond raising awareness, it’s about shining a light on the bold ideas transforming prevention, diagnosis, and treatment worldwide.
Prevention and Early Detection: The Game-Changers
One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime, a staggering figure that represents 25% of all cancer cases among women. Despite existing screening tools like mammography, the system still has gaps. In Spain, one out of every three breast cancers can go undetected in public screening programs. Even more striking, only 1% of women recalled for additional testing are actually diagnosed with cancer.
Enter The Blue Box, a startup rewriting the rules of detection. Its CEO Judit Giró presented how their “electronic nose” can identify breast cancer from a simple urine sample by detecting volatile biomarkers, making the process faster, cheaper, pain-free, and radiation-free.
With sensitivity levels surpassing mammography, The Blue Box is redefining what early detection can look like. While the goal is to become the future gold standard in screening, their first step is integrating this device into diagnostic pathways where suspicion already exists.
Mapping the FemTech Revolution
The event also showed Spain’s first FemTech map, introduced by Aline Noizet, professor of the Masters in Digital Healthcare at BTS, and Andrea Barbiero, Co-Salud founder. This highlights companies that focus on women’s health through digital innovation.
From menstrual health and menopause to maternal care, endometriosis, and mental well-being. It’s not just about women-founded companies; it’s about creating solutions for women.
One major player in this space is Hologic, represented by Andrew Pieprzyk, which launched the Global Women’s Health Index four years ago with Gallup. Their mission is simple but powerful: “If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.”
The index, now representing insights from nearly 150,000 women in 142 countries, serves as a data-driven compass to shape health policies worldwide.
In Spain, the results show promise but also room for growth. Only 11% of Spanish women were tested for cancer in 2023, and while progress is being made toward organized screening programs, there’s still a long way to go in accessibility and efficiency.
Beyond Cancer: Tech Empowering Every Stage of Womanhood
Innovation in women’s health doesn’t stop at screening. Ruben Molina, from Innitius, shared how their startup is taking bold steps in maternal health. Their AI-powered device measures cervical tissue elasticity, a vital factor in predicting preterm labor.
By combining this data with clinical records, Innitius helps doctors distinguish between real and false labor and make informed decisions on induction. Considering that traditional ultrasounds misdiagnose two out of three cases, this leap forward could save countless lives.
Innitius’ mission extends to low and middle-income countries, where 95% of maternal and neonatal deaths occur. Their technology is built for real-world conditions, even where electricity or internet access is limited.
Collaboration Over Competition: Building a Sustainable Health Ecosystem
The biggest challenge for any innovation? Adoption.
Even the most advanced solutions can take up to 17 years to become a new standard in healthcare due to slow regulatory systems and resistance to change.
Experts at the event emphasized five key lessons for innovators:
- Be truly agile and listen. Understand what doctors actually need, sometimes integrating, not replacing, existing tools.
- Complement, don’t disrupt. Position technology as a partner to current systems for faster adoption.
- Know your economics. Innovations that improve workflows and align with reimbursement models win faster.
- Master regulation. Compliance is not a barrier, it’s a bridge to credibility.
- Empower the patient voice. Today’s patients are ready for decentralized care; engaging them early can redefine trust and access.
Why These Conversations Matter
Women’s health still receives a fraction of the funding it deserves, despite representing over half of the global population. This imbalance is not just a social issue; it’s an opportunity for massive impact and innovation.
By continuing to measure, collaborate, and challenge traditional systems, we can shape a digital future where technology truly empowers women’s well-being.
The message is clear: Innovation in women’s health isn’t just about technology. It’s about equality, empathy, and impact.
If you’re inspired by innovation in healthcare, learn more about our Master in Digital Healthcare
