The pilot work carried out within Health Labs4Value has created more than short‑term innovations: it has established five territorial Living Labs that will continue to operate as permanent platforms for collaboration. In Slovenia, Germany, Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic, these structures are now embedded in local ecosystems and remain open spaces where patients, professionals and decision‑makers can work together to improve care.
Living Labs as ongoing spaces for co‑creation
Throughout the project, Living Labs functioned as practical environments for redesigning care pathways, testing new ideas and refining them through real‑life feedback. Their continuation ensures that this co‑creation does not stop with the project’s end. Established partnerships, facilitation processes and stakeholder networks will now support new challenges, new topics and new population groups.
A foundation for continuous learning
Sustaining these Living Labs means sustaining a culture of learning. Insights gained during the pilot phase — such as the use of PROMs and PREMs as learning tools and the importance of mapping care journeys — can now be applied to additional areas of care. As teams collect and reflect on outcomes, they contribute to evidence that informs both organisational practice and broader policy discussions.
Linking local innovation with system‑level priorities
The Living Labs will also maintain their role as connectors between frontline experience and strategic decision‑making. Their work will continue to inform debates on value‑based procurement, regulation and digital solutions, helping policymakers anchor decisions in local realities. The transnational network developed through Health Labs4Value will further support knowledge exchange across Central Europe.
A long‑term commitment to value‑based care
The long‑lasting impact of Health Labs4Value lies in demonstrating that change begins locally and grows through trusted relationships, shared learning and continuous adaptation. By remaining active beyond the project, the five Living Labs provide a stable foundation for future collaboration and a clear path towards more coordinated, people‑centred and value‑driven healthcare across the region.