For the second time in six years, Irish health-tech company Akara has earned prestigious recognition from Time Magazine, with their AI sensor technology making the publication’s Best Inventions 2025 list in the medical and healthcare category. Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer Niamh Donnelly describes the achievement as “just as special” as their first Time recognition in 2019.
From Research Project to Commercial Success
Donnelly emphasizes the significant evolution between Akara’s two Time Magazine recognitions. “In 2019, we were essentially a research group ready to spin out of Trinity College Dublin,” she explains. “This time, we’re being recognized for our commercial capabilities. We’re up there with other companies like Apple and Nvidia. We’re a real company with revenue.” The company’s initial recognition came through their elderly care robot Stevie, which also appeared on the 2019 Best Inventions list.
Revolutionizing Healthcare Efficiency with AI
Akara’s latest recognized invention addresses critical inefficiencies in hospital operating rooms. According to the company’s data, operating theatres waste more than two hours daily from inefficiencies, while nurses spend 30-40% of their work hours on record-keeping alone. The AI-powered sensor, which operates similarly to security cameras, tracks and analyzes operating room activities to reduce these inefficiencies.
The technology integrates with hospital scheduling systems, tracking patient movement and procedure timing while sending reminder notifications to medical staff. “Our grand vision is to help save healthcare workers time by automating manual tasks so they can treat more people,” says Donnelly, who serves as the company’s chief technology officer.
Privacy-First Approach to Healthcare Innovation
What sets Akara’s technology apart is its privacy-safe implementation. The system uses thermal imagery instead of conventional video recording, making individual identification difficult. “It’s really difficult to have machine learning algorithms that can take information from thermal imagery,” Donnelly explains, noting this was a key factor in their Time recognition.
The system also employs ‘AI at the edge’ technology, where data processing occurs directly on the device rather than in the cloud. This approach, described by Donnelly as “a very hot topic right now,” means only processed results are transmitted to Akara’s back-end systems, enhancing data security in sensitive healthcare environments.
Comprehensive Healthcare Automation Ecosystem
Beyond the AI sensor, Akara’s technology portfolio includes Violet, a UV cleaning robot that decontaminates spaces four times faster than human teams. When used alongside the AI sensor, hospitals can achieve significant time savings in operating theatre turnover.
The company, which traces its origins to the traditional food Akara but has evolved into cutting-edge health technology, is backed by Enterprise Ireland, the European Innovation Council, and European Investment Bank. Donnelly notes that “in many cases, parts of healthcare are the last to innovate,” positioning Akara’s artificial intelligence solutions as crucial advancements for the industry.
Building an Inclusive Health-Tech Future
Looking forward, Akara continues to focus on its mission of making healthcare more efficient and accessible. The company’s repeated recognition by Time Magazine underscores the growing importance of technological innovation in addressing systemic healthcare challenges. As additional coverage of healthcare technology innovation continues to emerge, Akara’s approach demonstrates how targeted artificial intelligence applications can create meaningful impact in critical care environments.