Periodic Reporting for period 1 - COHES.io (COnnedted Health EcoSystems via Open Innovation)
Reporting period: 2024-01-01 to 2025-03-31
The development and uptake of novel digital technologies in healthcare are associated with several barriers, such as expensive and risky development processes, quality and security requirements, and fragmentation in regulatory and reimbursement schemes.
Open innovation is an approach designed to foster innovation processes, increase efficiency, and reduce costs by bringing together various stakeholders of the healthcare ecosystem to create a supportive environment for innovation that helps overcome existing barriers.
COHES.io intends to create an interregional open innovation environment for digital health by interconnecting the regional ecosystems of Norte from Portugal, Malopolskie from Poland and Attica from Greece. We aim to increase the connectedness of these regions by introducing common tools for collaboration and networking; to improve the efficiency of healthcare innovation by identifying possibilities for joint interventions (e.g. the creation of an interregional virtual living lab), and to support the transfer of best practice innovation support schemes. Via a bottom-up co-creation process involving a diverse mix of innovation stakeholders joint actions will be identified, and their implementation will be secured by the engagement of public authorities (COHES.ios associated partners), being responsible for relevant innovation strategies and funding programmes.
Open innovation is an approach designed to foster innovation processes, increase efficiency, and reduce costs by bringing together various stakeholders of the healthcare ecosystem to create a supportive environment for innovation that helps overcome existing barriers.
COHES.io intends to create an interregional open innovation environment for digital health by interconnecting the regional ecosystems of Norte from Portugal, Malopolskie from Poland and Attica from Greece. We aim to increase the connectedness of these regions by introducing common tools for collaboration and networking; to improve the efficiency of healthcare innovation by identifying possibilities for joint interventions (e.g. the creation of an interregional virtual living lab), and to support the transfer of best practice innovation support schemes. Via a bottom-up co-creation process involving a diverse mix of innovation stakeholders joint actions will be identified, and their implementation will be secured by the engagement of public authorities (COHES.ios associated partners), being responsible for relevant innovation strategies and funding programmes.
During Phase 1, focused on Ecosystem Mapping and Cross-Regional Need Analysis, 3 regions conducted regional innovation ecosystem mapping to analyze existing innovation agendas, strategies, and policies, particularly in digital health and open innovation. This resulted in three regional innovation ecosystem maps. Simultaneously, EIT Health InnoStars collected and compiled best practices, tools, and platforms in open innovation in digital health, focusing on leader and strong innovator regions. The result was State-of-the-art Report On Open Innovation in Digital Health.
Partners organised roundtable sessions, also called Open Health Breakfast Club, in each partner region, fostering a collaborative space for key ecosystem actors to discuss strengths, challenges, and opportunities in promoting open innovation in digital healthcare. To complement the roundtables, in-depth interviews were conducted with key actors such as public authorities, donors, and investors. These interviews validated the roundtable discussions and explored funding opportunities, providing a comprehensive understanding of regional dynamics. The outcomes were consolidated into the Regional Health Landscape Report, which highlights opportunities and obstacles related to stakeholder engagement in digital health validation and testing.
To synthesise insights from regional roundtables and interviews, partner regions came together at TU Delft, a leading innovator region. This collaborative process resulted in the development of regional challenge and opportunity canvases, tackling the most pressing issues identified with regional actors, followed by forming Interregional Working Groups. The outcomes of the meeting in Delft are detailed in the Interregional Synthesis Tour Report.
Phase 2 of the project concentrated on Action Planning for Open Innovation in Digital Health.
Interregional Working Groups (IWGs) were established, involving diverse stakeholders from the three regional ecosystems to co-design a long list of potential joint actions for implementation over the next three years. The Health Community Advisory Board, composed of experts in digital health and open innovation, provided strategic input on the relevance of these joint actions. This resulted in the Co-assessment Report of Health Community Advisory Board. Based on the outcomes of the previous activities, the Joint Action Plan for Open Innovation in Digital Health was co-created, defining specific collaborative actions for the following three years.
Partners organised roundtable sessions, also called Open Health Breakfast Club, in each partner region, fostering a collaborative space for key ecosystem actors to discuss strengths, challenges, and opportunities in promoting open innovation in digital healthcare. To complement the roundtables, in-depth interviews were conducted with key actors such as public authorities, donors, and investors. These interviews validated the roundtable discussions and explored funding opportunities, providing a comprehensive understanding of regional dynamics. The outcomes were consolidated into the Regional Health Landscape Report, which highlights opportunities and obstacles related to stakeholder engagement in digital health validation and testing.
To synthesise insights from regional roundtables and interviews, partner regions came together at TU Delft, a leading innovator region. This collaborative process resulted in the development of regional challenge and opportunity canvases, tackling the most pressing issues identified with regional actors, followed by forming Interregional Working Groups. The outcomes of the meeting in Delft are detailed in the Interregional Synthesis Tour Report.
Phase 2 of the project concentrated on Action Planning for Open Innovation in Digital Health.
Interregional Working Groups (IWGs) were established, involving diverse stakeholders from the three regional ecosystems to co-design a long list of potential joint actions for implementation over the next three years. The Health Community Advisory Board, composed of experts in digital health and open innovation, provided strategic input on the relevance of these joint actions. This resulted in the Co-assessment Report of Health Community Advisory Board. Based on the outcomes of the previous activities, the Joint Action Plan for Open Innovation in Digital Health was co-created, defining specific collaborative actions for the following three years.
Strengthening Dynamic, Inclusive, and Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems
The COHES.io project has established a strong foundation for more dynamic, inclusive, and interconnected innovation ecosystems in three regions. By engaging over 350 stakeholders through co-creation activities, regional roundtables, interviews, working groups, and a shared online platform, the project fostered collaboration across the quadruple helix: industry, academia, civil society, and the public sector. A Memorandum of Understanding, signed by all partners and a majority of associated partners, secured ongoing commitment and support for a Joint Action Plan. The COHES.io Workbook further amplifies the project’s impact by guiding other regions in advancing people-centric digital health and interregional cooperation.
Preparing Joint Long-Term Programmes and Action Plans
The COHES.io project’s key outcome is the co-created Joint Action Plan for Open Innovation in Digital Health—a multi-annual roadmap designed to enhance cross-regional collaboration. Developed with input from ecosystem stakeholders, the plan aligns regional innovation agendas and policy tools. Five flagship initiatives were defined through Interregional Working Groups: implementing the European Health Data Space, boosting digital health literacy, co-designing a digital collaboration platform, establishing living labs, and integrating healthcare providers into innovation processes.
Ensuring Inclusion of All Innovation Actors and Regions
Inclusiveness was a core principle of the COHES.io project, guiding all activities to ensure broad participation across the quadruple helix—industry, academia, civil society, and the public sector. Through open dialogue, regional engagement, and the accessible LSOS platform, the project enabled equal opportunities for collaboration, regardless of stakeholder size or location. This inclusive approach ensured the Joint Action Plan reflects the diverse needs and strengths of regional innovation ecosystems.
Fostering Synergies with Other Funding Instruments
COHES.io actively fostered synergies with EU and national funding instruments by engaging public authorities with key roles in regional policy and financing. Through in-depth interviews and stakeholder engagement, the project identified alignment opportunities, supported by the development of a Synergy Matrix that maps connections between regional programmes and EU initiatives. This strategic approach enhances the Joint Action Plan’s implementation potential and lays the groundwork for long-term sustainability and funding leverage.
The impact of COHES.io is also evident in the strong support from across the innovation ecosystem, with 47 diverse organisations formally pledging their commitment. This broad engagement highlights the project’s success in fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration and securing cross-sectoral support for ongoing cooperation and implementation of the Joint Action Plan.
The COHES.io project has established a strong foundation for more dynamic, inclusive, and interconnected innovation ecosystems in three regions. By engaging over 350 stakeholders through co-creation activities, regional roundtables, interviews, working groups, and a shared online platform, the project fostered collaboration across the quadruple helix: industry, academia, civil society, and the public sector. A Memorandum of Understanding, signed by all partners and a majority of associated partners, secured ongoing commitment and support for a Joint Action Plan. The COHES.io Workbook further amplifies the project’s impact by guiding other regions in advancing people-centric digital health and interregional cooperation.
Preparing Joint Long-Term Programmes and Action Plans
The COHES.io project’s key outcome is the co-created Joint Action Plan for Open Innovation in Digital Health—a multi-annual roadmap designed to enhance cross-regional collaboration. Developed with input from ecosystem stakeholders, the plan aligns regional innovation agendas and policy tools. Five flagship initiatives were defined through Interregional Working Groups: implementing the European Health Data Space, boosting digital health literacy, co-designing a digital collaboration platform, establishing living labs, and integrating healthcare providers into innovation processes.
Ensuring Inclusion of All Innovation Actors and Regions
Inclusiveness was a core principle of the COHES.io project, guiding all activities to ensure broad participation across the quadruple helix—industry, academia, civil society, and the public sector. Through open dialogue, regional engagement, and the accessible LSOS platform, the project enabled equal opportunities for collaboration, regardless of stakeholder size or location. This inclusive approach ensured the Joint Action Plan reflects the diverse needs and strengths of regional innovation ecosystems.
Fostering Synergies with Other Funding Instruments
COHES.io actively fostered synergies with EU and national funding instruments by engaging public authorities with key roles in regional policy and financing. Through in-depth interviews and stakeholder engagement, the project identified alignment opportunities, supported by the development of a Synergy Matrix that maps connections between regional programmes and EU initiatives. This strategic approach enhances the Joint Action Plan’s implementation potential and lays the groundwork for long-term sustainability and funding leverage.
The impact of COHES.io is also evident in the strong support from across the innovation ecosystem, with 47 diverse organisations formally pledging their commitment. This broad engagement highlights the project’s success in fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration and securing cross-sectoral support for ongoing cooperation and implementation of the Joint Action Plan.