The future of European digital health was on full display at the Innovating Health Together (IHT) Conference 2025, where the HealthChain project successfully hosted its highly anticipated pitch session, “Interregional Digital Solutions Co-created With Hospitals Across Europe.”
The session showcased nine innovative digital health solutions, each developed through a unique interregional, demand-driven co-creation process involving innovative Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and leading healthcare organizations from across Europe.
Following the exciting pre-event training sessions, the Innovating Health Together event in Porto proved to be a milestone occasion for the HealthChain project and its partners. Bringing together SMEs, healthcare professionals, and innovation ecosystems, the event highlighted the progress and promising impact of digital health solutions co-created with hospitals across Europe.
The pitch session was marked by dynamic presentations that showcased how the participating SMEs, working under the HealthChain framework, successfully piloted their innovative solutions in hospital settings throughout the last two years.
Among the SMEs, Xavier Lleixa from Digimevo found immense value in the event’s collaborative environment. He reflected that engaging with hospitals, investors, and startups in a single day accelerated their clinical validation efforts and helped pave the way for scalable solutions. For Xavier, the event was not just a pitch—it was an opportunity to build meaningful partnerships that bring innovation to life.
Joao Almeida from Virtual Care shared a similar sentiment. For his team, pitching their concept was more than presenting an idea; it was about connecting with healthcare professionals and gaining direct feedback on everyday clinical challenges. This interaction enriched their understanding and sharpened their approach, preparing them to meet real-world demands.
Key Opinion Leader who helped SMEs prepare for the public pitching session, Jorge Pimenta from IPN, praised the comprehensive support provided by HealthChain, highlighting how the project covers every stage from clinical needs identification to navigating regulatory pathways and preparing for the market. This end-to-end approach ensured startups were well equipped to refine and tailor their innovations.
Johan Lecocq from BioVia, another distinguished KOL and trainer, emphasized the essential alignment of these solutions with real clinical needs. According to Johan, early collaboration with hospitals prevents innovations that fall short of practical application, making the co-creation process vital.
Project coordinator and session moderator, Elena López from TBM, remarked on the passion and clarity of the innovators, and how their ability to integrate feedback from the KOL’s during the practice sessions strongly engaged the audience. She noted that this interplay between private coaching and public presentation was key to bringing forward convincing and business-ready solutions.
As the pitch session drew to a close, it was clear that HealthChain had offered more than just technical guidance, it fostered a vibrant ecosystem that nurtures innovation through collaboration and shared learning. The event marked a milestone not only for the participating SMEs but for the broader mission of transforming patient care across Europe through digital solutions.
We extend our sincerest wishes for success to all participating SMEs and innovators. We thank everyone who contributed to making this event a remarkable platform for collaboration, innovation, and shared learning.
Disclaimer: HealthChain project is funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
