BACK TO NEWS Supported by IHI: With a duration of 48 months, the project has a total budget of €18,88 million; €7,74 million is funded by the Innovative Health Initiative […]
Funding programme: Horizon Europe Call: I3 – 2023 – Cap2b Project coordinator:AGENTIA PENTRU DEZVOLTARE REGIONALANORD-EST, Romania Other partners: North-East Regional Innovative Cluster for Structural and Molecular Imaging, Romania Klaster LifeScience Krakow, Polonia MEDVIA, Belgio
Funding programme: Culture&Health Call: CREA-CULT-2024-PLAT: European Platforms for Promotion of Emerging Artists Project coordinator: Culture Action Europe Brussels Other partners: European Regional and Local Health Authorities ASBL Brussels, Belgium Arts For Health
Call: “Service contract to identify obstacles to vaccination of physical, practical or administrative nature and develop recommendations” Other partners: Kantar Public, European Health Management Association (EHMA), Fundacion Fisabio, ifok GmbH,
Funding programme: Horizon Europe Call: HORIZON-EIE-2021-CONNECT-01 Project coordinator: Medicen Paris Region Other partners: Science and Innovation Link Office (SILO), Bioindustry Park Silvano Fumero spA, Reseau des Acheteurs Hospitaliers (RESAH), European
The project, launched in January 2018, has a duration of 4 years and is financed by the HORIZON 2020 programme. BOOST aims to create an innovative approach in order to strengthen social and emotional skills among children and young people in school, so as to promote mental health and well-being. EUREGHA leads the Dissemination Work package.
In his intervention, Juuso Järviniemi, Policy Officer at DG CNECT, outlined the rationale and ambitions behind the Action Plan. With the health sector experiencing a surge in cyber incidents, from ransomware attacks to data breaches, protecting digital health infrastructure has become a political and public health priority.
The Action Plan covers the entire cybersecurity cycle—from prevention to deterrence—while focusing on tools, coordination mechanisms, and support tailored to the needs of healthcare providers. Importantly, the plan also mentions regional implementation, with European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) playing a key role in supporting cybersecurity investments in hospitals and local systems.
Mr. Järviniemi also invited regional actors to contribute to the public consultation (open until 30 June) and to apply for the newly created Health Cybersecurity Advisory Board (deadline: 23 May). These mechanisms aim to gather on-the-ground expertise and ensure that national and regional actors can shape how the Action Plan is implemented.
Lisa Hill, Head of Cybersecurity Strategy at the Scottish Government, presented Scotland’s approach to digital cyber-resilience in healthcare. With over 20 health boards, 15,000 locations, and millions of daily data transactions, Scotland has invested heavily in cybersecurity audits and capacity-building initiatives.
One of the standout initiatives is the Cyber Centre of Excellence in Dundee—a collaboration with universities aimed at creating a skills pipeline for future cybersecurity professionals in health. This complements the Scottish Cyber Coordination Centre, which centralises functions such as threat intelligence, vulnerability management, and incident response.
Scotland’s model illustrates how multi-level governance, dedicated infrastructure, and skills development can come together to build a more cyber-resilient health system.
The meeting also served as a platform for broader discussion among CoR members, stakeholders, and EUREGHA representatives. Several important takeaways emerged:
Skills development is essential—not only for cybersecurity professionals, but also for frontline healthcare workers. Participants called for the upskilling of the health workforce to navigate digital systems safely and confidently.
The lack of dedicated funding at the national level for cybersecurity in health was noted as a barrier. The European Commission encouraged regions to explore Digital Europe and Cohesion Policy funding opportunities.
As cyber threats evolve, so must the collaborative frameworks to address them. Many stressed the need for cross-border coordination, common standards, and a platform for sharing best practices across the EU.
The discussion also emphasised the need for better access to funding, interregional cooperation, and inclusive governance. Several contributions underlined the importance of equipping the healthcare workforce with essential digital skills, especially to support older professionals during the ongoing digital transition in healthcare.
The IRGHW will continue to follow this file closely, supporting the involvement of regional and local health authorities in shaping and implementing EU-level digital health and cybersecurity initiatives. EUREGHA remains committed to fostering collaboration and ensuring that regions are equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow’s health threats, digital and beyond.
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