On 20–21 October 2026, the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) Forum brought together stakeholders from across Europe in Brussels under the theme “Translating Research into Long-Term Impact”. The event explored how public-private partnerships and collaborative research can translate scientific advances into lasting benefits for patients, healthcare systems and European competitiveness.
Throughout the Forum, discussions addressed the importance of strengthening collaboration between research, industry, healthcare providers, public authorities and patients. Key topics included health system readiness for innovation, patient co-creation, emerging technologies and the development of more sustainable healthcare solutions.
EUREGHA was present with a dedicated stand, providing an opportunity to connect with participants and highlight the perspective of regional and local health authorities in European health research and innovation. The stand offered a space to showcase EUREGHA’s work and its involvement in European projects, while emphasising the importance of ensuring that innovation responds to territorial needs and can be translated into practice.
Regional and local health authorities play a crucial role in bridging the gap between research and healthcare delivery. Their involvement helps connect European-level initiatives with the realities of healthcare systems, supporting the uptake of innovative solutions and ensuring that these can generate meaningful, long-term benefits for patients and communities.
Among the projects highlighted was ENKORE, an EU-funded public-private partnership supported by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) under Horizon Europe, in which EUREGHA contributes its expertise in stakeholder engagement, communication and the involvement of regional healthcare actors. The project promotes circular, safe and sustainable solutions for single-use medical devices and pharmaceutical packaging, working with partners across five regional healthcare systems in Europe to reduce healthcare’s environmental footprint. ENKORE reflects the importance of collaboration between research, industry and regional health authorities in advancing more sustainable healthcare systems.
The Forum’s workshops further explored how innovation can be translated into practice, from preparing health systems to adopt new technologies to strengthening patient involvement in research. Discussions also addressed regulatory frameworks, health technology assessment and the conditions needed to ensure that promising innovations reach patients.
Overall, the IHI Forum 2026 was an opportunity for EUREGHA to strengthen connections with the European health innovation community and showcase the contribution of regional and local health authorities. Through its participation and involvement in projects such as ENKORE, EUREGHA continues to promote collaboration between European research and healthcare systems, helping ensure that innovation delivers lasting impact for people, regions and the environment.
Some moments at the forum...
