Representatives of the seven HealthBridge_CE partner organisations met in Prague on 22 September 2026 for the project’s kick-off meeting. The gathering officially launched two years of transnational cooperation aimed at helping proven digital health solutions cross borders and reach healthcare systems faster.
A digital health solution accepted in one central European country may have to demonstrate its value all over again before entering another healthcare system. This slows down the introduction of promising solutions and delays their benefits for patients and healthcare professionals.
HealthBridge_CE addresses this challenge by developing a shared approach through which hospitals, innovators, business support organisations and public authorities can test digital health solutions, generate early evidence and connect the findings with policy and funding decisions.
During the kick-off meeting, partners presented their organisations, expertise and roles within the project. They reviewed the project objectives, timeline and responsibilities and explored how its three thematic work packages will complement one another.
The discussions covered the establishment of cross-border Policy Learning Nodes, the development of the Integrated Living Lab and Policy Framework, and the preparation of Twin Pilot activities. Partners also agreed on the first project management and communication steps needed to ensure coordinated implementation across all participating countries.
The partnership was especially honoured to welcome Gregorio Vichi from the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Joint Secretariat. His contribution provided a valuable programme perspective as partners prepared to move from planning to implementation.
The meeting concluded in a positive and collaborative spirit. Partners left Prague with a shared understanding of the work ahead and a strong commitment to combining their knowledge, networks and experience. Their first activities will build on the results of earlier Interreg projects and lay the foundations for the project’s policy-learning, testing and evidence-generation processes.
The HealthBridge_CE journey has officially begun.
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