Arnhem, The Netherlands – On November 7-8, 2024, the HealthChain project marked a major milestone with its 5th General Assembly, held in the inspiring setting of Provincie Gelderland. The Assembly brought together members and partners from across Europe, all focused on scaling healthcare innovations, securing investment, and building a sustainable future.
Hosted by the East Netherlands team, the event celebrated key achievements, addressed challenges, and set the stage for the next steps in transforming healthcare through technology and collaboration.
Day 1: Progress and Problem-Solving
The first day of the Assembly centered around reflecting on progress and addressing obstacles. Participants shared updates on ongoing projects, highlighting successes such as Portugal’s artificial intelligence system for cardiology, which is helping doctors predict heart problems earlier, and Croatia’s fall-prevention project that is improving safety for seniors. These promising developments demonstrated the transformative potential of technology in healthcare.
However, some initiatives faced challenges. In the Netherlands, the BeterDichtbij app experienced delays due to cybersecurity issues and difficulties engaging key stakeholders like general practitioners. Similarly, Spain encountered hurdles in implementing a healthcare innovation, emphasizing the complexity of integrating new solutions into existing systems. Despite these challenges, the HealthChain team collaborated to identify solutions, adjust timelines, and ensure these projects could continue moving forward successfully.
As the day progressed, discussions focused on scaling successful pilots beyond their initial regions to benefit more patients and healthcare systems across Europe. The exchange of lessons learned fostered a spirit of collaboration, enabling regions to support one another in overcoming shared challenges. The day concluded with renewed momentum and a commitment to building a stronger network for future success.
Day 2: Innovation, Investment, and Collaboration
The second day of the Assembly shifted the focus to the future, emphasizing sustainability, innovation, and the practical steps needed to turn healthcare solutions into impactful realities. One of the highlights was a session where IT companies presented their projects to a panel of experts, practicing how to pitch their ideas to potential investors. This exercise was a critical step in preparing for a major pitch event planned for 2025, where these innovations will be showcased to attract funding and support for scaling up.
Another key topic was the unveiling of an online platform designed to connect healthcare innovators, share resources, and facilitate collaboration across regions. This platform will be an essential tool for expanding the HealthChain network and ensuring the ideas and solutions developed by the project continue to grow and inspire new innovations.
Participants also worked in smaller groups to tackle the question of sustainability, discussing what investments are needed to ensure these solutions have a lasting impact. They brainstormed strategies to attract funding, organize events to showcase their innovations, and validate their ideas with potential customers. The energy in these sessions underscored the shared commitment to turning the project’s vision into reality.
What’s Next for HealthChain?
Looking forward, HealthChain’s focus is on three major goals: expanding successful solutions to new regions, fostering collaboration across borders to share and build on successes, and creating a sustainable future through a supportive online community. By scaling up these promising healthcare innovations, connecting regions, and building a lasting network, HealthChain is paving the way for smarter, more accessible healthcare across Europe.
As HealthChain continues to grow, its groundbreaking projects are poised to transform healthcare across Europe. With collaboration and determination, the future of smarter, more accessible healthcare is within reach. Stay tuned for the next chapter of this exciting journey!
