During the period, VELES made substantial progress in developing regional health data spaces, largely through activities in WP2 and WP3. This progress contributed to both immediate and lasting impacts on Smart Health innovation and governance.
WP2’s focus was on identifying key enablers and barriers for establishing regional health data spaces. Through an in-depth SWOT analysis across four target ecosystems, WP2 clarified both opportunities and challenges, providing a strategic roadmap to enhance regional Smart Health capabilities. This foundational analysis directly informed the development of Regional Smart Health Data Spaces (RSHDS), which has the potential to drive forward innovative use cases, such as those outlined within the "3Ds" framework. By engaging diverse stakeholders—researchers, policymakers, industry, and the public—in a Quadruple Helix approach, WP2 fostered collaboration that supports a unified long-term R&I strategy. This strategy is not only aligned with European Smart Health objectives but also positions the target regions (Bulgaria, Cyprus, Greece, and Romania) for sustainable, data-driven transformation.
In addition, WP2 established a foundation for cross-border policy adoption and innovation by coordinating socio-economic impact objectives and identifying necessary support mechanisms. These efforts also laid the groundwork for the wider adoption of Smart Health initiatives, with actionable recommendations to inform national policies and investments.
WP3 aimed at establishing and fostering sustainable health data ecosystems to support Smart Health. Task 3.1 played a key role by mobilizing both supply and demand sides of data exchange, including stakeholders such as data providers, infrastructure suppliers, regulatory bodies, and standards development organizations. By aligning diverse actors and encouraging cross-sector collaboration, WP3 contributed to a self-sustaining, resilient ecosystem that could drive innovation beyond the project's scope. This approach enhances regional data-sharing capacities and amplifies the reach of data-driven healthcare solutions, ultimately bringing long-term improvements to healthcare and well-being.
Task 3.2 focused on specifying the architecture and infrastructure for RSHDS. By addressing data availability, integrity, and sovereignty, WP3 established essential technical conditions for effective, cross-border data sharing, fostering more integrated and interoperable healthcare systems. Task 3.3 supported this by exploring critical legal and ethical requirements, thus ensuring RSHDS complies with data quality, security, and interoperability standards. These efforts align the project with stringent EU regulations, including GDPR, thereby building trust in the health data-sharing ecosystem.
VELES also laid the groundwork for national infrastructure alignment with upcoming EU regulations, notably the European Health Data Space (EHDS). WP3’s focus on legal and ethical compliance set a robust framework to ensure that data exchange practices respect privacy rights, secure data use, and establish a culture of accountability.
