Two major distinctions — Platinum and Gold — were awarded to the Artificial Intelligence, Computational Systems and Technological Applications Laboratory (ACTA Lab) of the Department of Energy Systems, and the 1st University Ophthalmology Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, at the AI & Data Awards 2026 powered by UBITECH.

Specifically, the project AIRIN: Medical Decision Support System for Explainable AI-driven Diagnosis of Ophthalmic Diseases received the Platinum Award in the “AI/Data Tools & Solutions” category and the Gold Award for “Best Machine Learning Solution”, recognizing its internationally competitive innovation in the field of medical artificial intelligence.

AIRIN is a pioneering application of Deep Learning and Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) in ophthalmology, delivering a transparent, reliable, and scalable Medical Decision Support System (MDSS) that incorporates multiple diagnostic models, diverse explainability techniques, and extensive external validation. The project successfully bridges advanced research with clinical practice, generating measurable societal impact.

The Department warmly congratulates Elpiniki Papageorgiou, Professor of the Department and Director of ACTA Lab, on the outstanding Platinum and Gold distinctions at the AI & Data Awards 2026. This achievement highlights the high level of scientific research and innovation produced within our Department, strengthening its international footprint and reinforcing the connection between academic excellence and meaningful societal contribution.