A solution designed to improve access to and efficiency in kidney transplantation – while enhancing patients’ quality of life and generating potential savings of up to €2M for every 100 patients in the healthcare sector – has earned a recognition at this year’s EARTO Awards. KEPsoft is among the winners in the Expected Impact category of the awards presented by EARTO, the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations. The award ceremony took place on Tuesday, 14 October, in Brussels.
Following the success of MyNPK and iLoF, which were recognised in the Expected Impact category of the EARTO Innovation Awards in 2023 and 2024, respectively (MyNPK as a finalist and iLoF as the winner), KEPsoft has now secured the third spot on the podium for the most innovative contributions with high social impact.
KEPsoft is the first pan-European software platform that uses optimisation algorithms to identify the best possible combinations for kidney transplants, increasing the efficiency of both national and international kidney exchange programmes (KEPs). Although some national support systems already exist, KEPsoft stands out as a more complete software solution with a support structure that ensures it remains continuously updated – unlike most current solutions, which tend to become outdated over time. Adoption of this technology could help increase the number of living-donor kidney transplants and reduce waiting times for patients.
“This technology will enable more kidney transplants, meaning that more people can move from dialysis to a transplant scenario. In addition to improving these patients’ quality of life, we’re helping more of them to return to their regular, active lives,” explained Ana Viana, INESC TEC researcher and one of the creators of the technology.
Developed by INESC TEC in partnership with the HUN-REN Centre for Economic and Regional Studies (KRTK) in Budapest, the Óbuda University, and the University of Glasgow, KEPsoft features a modular architecture that ensures interoperability with existing information technology systems, making it adaptable to various legal, clinical, and data management frameworks.
“We believe that KEPsoft promotes cross-border collaboration in healthcare and boosts the efficiency and sustainability of kidney exchange programmes, offering transplant opportunities to people with end-stage renal disease and incompatible living donors – ultimately saving many lives,” added the researcher.
INESC TEC is the only Portuguese institution among the winners of the 2025 EARTO Awards, which annually acknowledge innovative contributions with significant social impact across two categories: Delivered Impact and Expected Impact. EARTO brings together more than 350 members from over 30 countries.
“Witnessing an INESC TEC technology recognised by EARTO for the third consecutive year demonstrates the maturity of our work in technology transfer. This kind of recognition highlights our researchers’ achievements and reinforces the role of these initiatives in building bridges between R&D, industry, and society – increasing the reach and impact of INESC TEC’s innovations across Europe,” said Marta Vranas from INESC TEC’s Technology Transfer Office.
Among the innovations highlighted by EARTO in 2025 is another INESC TEC solution: CEVESA, a holistic long-term planning tool for energy transition and the decarbonisation of the electricity market.
It’s worth mentioning that, out of the collaboration between the organisations behind KEPsoft, a spin-off company – the KEPsoft Collaborative – was founded in 2025 to help patients with chronic kidney disease find compatible donors.
The researcher mentioned in this news piece is associated with INESC TEC and IPP-ISEP
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