Taking Norwegian healthtech success global

‘With remote patient monitoring and medication support, we are bringing healthcare into patients’ homes. Treatment no longer needs to take place in hospitals or care homes – more people can receive the support they need where they live and lead a dignified life,’ says Andreas Hall, CFO at Dignio.

Patients always receive the right medication at the right time. Home care nurses save countless hours of travel. People with chronic conditions can continue living at home and retain their independence. With more than 13,000 users in hospitals and municipalities across Norway, and now expanding rapidly worldwide, Dignio has the potential to revolutionise how healthcare services follow up patients.

Pressure on healthcare systems worldwide will only increase in the years ahead. With an ageing population and a growing number of people living with chronic conditions, there is an urgent need for new, smart solutions. Traditional follow-up requires healthcare professionals to visit patients in their homes several times a day, increasing workloads and taking up valuable time.

The ambitions of both the EU and Norway are clear: the healthcare sector must become more sustainable, digital and patient-centred. Efficient use of resources and greater patient independence are key. Since its establishment in 2012, Dignio has developed a platform that addresses these challenges, and markets are responding positively.

Subscription revenue from their solutions has increased from around NOK 30 million in 2020, and they expect it to reach NOK 150 million in 2025.

Digno's solution comprises two core functions managed through a single integrated platform: remote patient monitoring (RPM) and electronic medication dispensers (EMDs).

'Using a device in the home fitted with a medication roll from the pharmacy, patients receive the correct dose of medication at the right time. Home care services can also use our proprietary platform, Dignio Prevent, to monitor whether patients take their medication as scheduled,' Hall explains.

With remote patient monitoring, patients can take daily readings themselves, such as blood pressure, blood glucose and oxygen saturation. The data is automatically transferred to the patient's tablet and the MyDignio app. This allows healthcare professionals to monitor the readings and set up alerts for values outside the normal range. What sets Dignio apart is the combination of these two solutions in a single platform.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dignio demonstrated the scalability and breadth of its platform by rapidly developing a tailored solution for the City of Oslo.

'During the pandemic, we delivered a solution for the City of Oslo to monitor people with coronavirus-related symptoms. During Covid, more than 50,000 people used our platform. This showed that the platform itself is truly scalable,' says Hall.

Today, more than 5,000 hospital patients use the solution, while around 8,000 patients receiving municipal healthcare services use Dignio's services.

‘We receive a great deal of positive feedback from people who feel they can maintain their independence and continue living fulfilling lives for longer. What people want most is to be able to manage on their own, and knowing that our products can make this possible and help them feel safe makes our work both motivating and meaningful,’ says Hall.

Behind the impressive figures lies an important human dimension.

‘For the first time, I feel that the house is truly mine,’ says Bjarne, 82, who uses an automated medication dispenser.

'I want to be able to manage on my own, and the technology makes me feel safer and more independent,' says Alf (73), another user of Dignio's solutions.

In 2022, Dignio acquired its main supplier, based in Canada, giving the company a foothold in North America.

'We are currently focusing primarily on Norway and are expanding into Sweden. We have sales in Canada, but are also looking towards the US. Other regions also offer exciting opportunities, with the Netherlands perhaps standing out most because of its mature market,' says Hall.

It is precisely the level of maturity that determines which new markets we choose, particularly when it comes to medication support.

'Sweden and the Netherlands have markets that are as well established as Norway's, while the markets in Canada and the US are less mature but clearly developing,' he says.

To realise its international ambitions, Dignio needed capital for product and market development. A crucial growth loan of NOK 15 million from the European Investment Fund (EIF), provided through us in 2024, has supported this international expansion.

'Dignio is one of the first Norwegian companies to receive funding from the European Investment Fund (EIF), following our agreement with the EIF in 2024,' says Hanne Beate Stunes, Senior Adviser at Innovation Norway.

The loan is specifically designed for companies and projects focused on innovation, growth and internationalisation – making it a perfect fit for Dignio.

Read more about the EIF scheme

Our partnership with Dignio goes back many years, and we have supported the company in various ways along the way.

'We have played a crucial role, working alongside DNB, our main bank. Both organisations have focused on finding solutions,' says Hall, adding:

– We have been very fortunate to receive such close support from Innovation Norway. One person in particular, Hanne Beate Stunes, has worked with us for many years and has been an invaluable resource. She has helped us with application processes, been a trusted sounding board on many issues and identified relevant support schemes for us. As we work to take our success to the world, Innovation Norway has been an essential partner, Hall emphasises.