Training Courses Poster Presentation at the END 2026 Conference

The journey from a promising research concept to a tangible healthcare solution is often complex and uncertain. To shed light on how to accelerate this process, Francesca Sperandio, representing the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), recently attended the International Conference on Education and New Developments (END 2026), held from June 20 to 22 in Madeira Island, Portugal. During the event’s engaging poster session, She showcased the collaborative paper “EVOLVE2CARE Training Series: Building Capacity for Innovators and Living Labs”. The research was co-authored by Marta De Los Ríos White, and AV partners, Metaxas Gamvrelis, Konstantinos Baliouskas, and Adriane Thrash. Furthermore, the abstract of the poster has been officially published and is available in the conference’s proceedings.

The Challenge in HealthTech Innovation

Despite massive investments in healthcare research, many brilliant technological concepts never make it to real-world application. Transforming early-stage ideas into practical solutions requires seamless collaboration among researchers, entrepreneurs, healthcare professionals, and investors. However, these vital interactions are frequently fragmented, which severely slows down the transition from clinical experimentation to practical implementation. Innovators and Living Labs often experience different, yet complementary, capacity gaps that hinder effective partnership.

The EVOLVE2CARE Dual-Track Solution

To address these capacity gaps, the EVOLVE2CARE initiative launched two aligned, six-part training programs designed to create a coherent innovation pathway. Developed collaboratively by the European Network of Living Labs and Anthology Ventures, this learner-centred curriculum provides a shared methodology.

The dual-track approach includes:

  • Training for Innovators: Led by Anthology Ventures, this track equips researchers and entrepreneurs with a comprehensive innovation toolkit. The curriculum covers design thinking, rapid prototyping, business modelling, and investor preparedness. Participants successfully generated a Product Requirements Document and a use-case prototype focused on hospital discharge management.
  • Training for Living Labs: Spearheaded by ENoLL, this track empowers Living Labs to facilitate a smoother transition from research to the market. Training focuses heavily on user validation, operational methodologies, and stakeholder engagement. Attendees received a service design blueprint and a comprehensive ethics checklist to guide research with end users.

Tangible Results and Real-World Impact

Sperandio’s presentation at END 2026 highlighted the immense success of this educational methodology. The interactive poster sessions allowed global attendees to visualize the project’s milestones and discuss the findings directly with the presenters.

The program has already driven significant action:

  • High Satisfaction: The dual-track training received highly positive feedback, with overall session quality rated between 3 and 5 out of 5.
  • Immediate Action: An impressive 43% of participants are already applying what they learned to real-world projects.
  • Future Planning: Another 29% plan to implement these strategies within the next three to six months.
  • Reusable Resources: All generated tools remain freely accessible via the ENoLL Living Labbers Academy, promoting continuous, long-term learning.

Conclusion

Francesca Sperandio’s presentation of the EVOLVE2CARE framework at END 2026 underscores the critical importance of aligning skills across the healthtech ecosystem. By equipping both innovators and Living Labs with actionable, complementary tools, the program ensures that tomorrow’s healthcare solutions do not remain stuck in the lab, but rapidly reach the patients who need them most.

Sister-Projects Joint Webinar on Experimentation Frameworks for Testing Innovations

As emerging technologies continue to evolve rapidly, creating safe and effective environments to test them is crucial. To address this industry need, a live external webinar titled “Experimentation frameworks for testing innovations” has been scheduled. This collaborative event is jointly hosted by three EU-funded sister projects: EVOLVE2CARE, FINEX, and APROVALS.

What to Expect

The webinar is designed to present a comprehensive action plan for implementing test environments. Specifically, it will focus on how to utilize regulatory sandboxes, living labs, and test beds to evaluate the potential of new and emerging technologies.

To provide a structured approach, expert speakers will analyze each of these three frameworks across several critical dimensions. These dimensions include:

  • Infrastructure & Physical Resources
  • Programs & Services
  • Stakeholder Engagement & Policy

Webinar Agenda and Featured Speakers

Attendees can look forward to a highly focused, step-by-step agenda designed to maximize value.

  • Welcome (5 mins): A brief opening to kick off the session.
  • Introduction to the Sister Projects (10 mins): A short introduction featuring Anastasia Valtopoulou, Research Associate at iMedPhys, AUTH (EVOLVE2CARE), alongside representatives from FINEX and APROVALS.
  • Experimentation Spaces & Test Beds: Presented by David Bigorra, Consultant at Cleantech Group representing FINEX.
  • Living Labs: Presented by Despoina Petsani, Research Associate at iMedPhys, AUTH, representing EVOLVE2CARE.
  • Regulatory Sandboxes: Presented by Alexis Biton, Head of International Affairs and APROVALS Coordinator.
  • Interactive Q&A: The event will conclude with a dedicated time for audience questions.

Event Details and Registration

The EVOLVE2CARE, FINEX, and APROVALS project teams look forward to welcoming you to an insightful session on advancing innovation through structured experimentation.

  • Date: July 2, 2026
  • Time: 16:00 CEST / 4:00 PM CET
  • Registration: Please secure your spot and receive the meeting link by registering online.

You can complete your registration via the official Zoom link here: https://authgr.zoom.us/meeting/register/RjL57wDAQxGEBvrTUQajwQ.

EVOLVE2CARE and DataPACT Webinar on Legal Compliance and Automated Policies in Transitional Care

As AI systems and digital health solutions become increasingly integrated into transitional care, navigating the complex landscape of tech legislation is more important than ever. Addressing this challenge, EVOLVE2CARE partnered with the Data Pact project to deliver an insightful webinar focusing on the legal implications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the automation of regulatory compliance.

The webinar brought together innovators, Living Labs, legal experts, and healthcare stakeholders to discuss how current laws impact health data processing and how new technologies can help automate compliance monitoring.

🎥 Missed the webinar or would like to revisit the discussion? 

Watch the full recording here: 

Connecting Innovation with Living Labs

The session opened with an introduction to the EVOLVE2CARE project’s mission to bridge the gap between stakeholders in transitional care by utilizing Living Labs as a research and innovation enabler. The project utilized the Axelab platform from the European Network of Living Labs to launch an open call, successfully providing 10 vouchers of 5,008 euros to external companies. Through this initiative, Living Labs provided critical services like usability testing and real-world validation, helping companies overcome regulatory and business model hurdles to accelerate market readiness.

Navigating the Intersection of GDPR and the EU AI Act

The webinar’s next featured speaker, Sharon Srirap from the Malta IT Law Association and the Data Pact project, explored the profound legal implications of AI systems. The presentation highlighted the intrinsic link between data and law, noting that AI systems in the healthcare sector rely on vast volumes of sensitive personal data to learn and make predictions.

A central message was the interplay between different regulations, specifically the GDPR and the EU AI Act. While the GDPR targets constrained data use through principles like purpose limitation and data minimization, AI systems inherently thrive on expansive and flexible data sets. To navigate this tension, the presentation emphasized the importance of utilizing synthetic or anonymized data wherever possible and implementing privacy by design and default, particularly when dealing with special categories of health data.

Automating Compliance with ODRL

To bridge the gap between complex legal texts and practical implementation, Paolo introduced technological approaches to automate compliance elements. The discussion focused on the Open Digital Rights Language (ODRL), a machine-readable web standard used to represent usage policies, permissions, prohibitions, and obligations.

Paolo demonstrated how the Data Pact project has developed a comprehensive mathematical semantics model for ODRL, effectively removing ambiguity from policy interpretation. This innovative approach allows systems to evaluate streams of events—such as electronic health records being accessed—against established policies to automatically flag non-compliant actions. By utilizing tools like policy editors and ODRL evaluation engines, organizations can streamline data sharing agreements and evaluate access control requests in an exact and efficient manner.

Preparing for the Future of Digital Health

The webinar demonstrated the immense value of cross-disciplinary collaboration in understanding the evolving regulatory frameworks. By bringing together Living Lab methodologies, legal expertise, and automated compliance tools, the session provided valuable insights for innovators and stakeholders seeking to responsibly design and deploy AI systems in transitional care ecosystems.

EVOLVE2CARE and RAISE-SUITE Explore the Role of Open Science in Transitional Care 

As digital health ecosystems become increasingly interconnected, the need for trustworthy, accessible, and interoperable data is more important than ever. Addressing this challenge, EVOLVE2CARE and RAISE-SUITE joined forces on 11 June 2026 to deliver the first session of the EVOLVE2CARE Joint Webinar Series, “Connecting the Dots in Transitional Care: Open, Trusted & Interoperable Care.” 

The webinar, titled “Impact and Use of Open Science in Transitional Care,” brought together researchers, innovators, Living Labs, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders to discuss how Open Science principles can support collaboration, innovation, and evidence-based decision-making across healthcare systems. 

🎥 Missed the webinar or would like to revisit the discussion? 

Watch the full recording here: 

Open Science as a Driver of Healthcare Innovation 

The session opened with an introduction to the EVOLVE2CARE project by the Laboratory of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH). The presentation highlighted the project’s mission to standardize HealthTech experimentation practices and strengthen collaboration between innovators, Living Labs, healthcare providers, and end users. 

A key message of the webinar was that successful healthcare innovation requires more than technological development. It also depends on the ability to share knowledge, collaborate across disciplines, and ensure that data can be accessed and reused responsibly throughout the innovation lifecycle. 

FAIR Data and Responsible Data Sharing in Practice 

The webinar’s featured speaker, Dimosthenis Natsos, Security R&D Engineer at Cyclopt, explored the role of Open Science and FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) data practices in supporting digital health innovation. 

The presentation highlighted why researchers and innovators should adopt FAIR principles to improve the discoverability, accessibility, and reuse of research data. At the same time, it emphasized the importance of balancing openness with privacy, security, and ethical considerations, particularly when handling sensitive health-related information. 

A central message was that while data sharing can accelerate scientific discovery and innovation, it must be supported by appropriate governance frameworks, robust safeguards, and responsible data management practices to maintain trust and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. 

From Principles to Practice 

To illustrate these concepts, the webinar presented practical examples of how Open Science and FAIR data approaches can support transitional care innovation. 

The discussion demonstrated how structured data management, privacy-by-design methodologies, and interoperable data infrastructures can improve collaboration between healthcare providers, researchers, and innovators. These approaches can ultimately contribute to more informed decision-making, stronger evidence generation, and better outcomes for both patients and caregivers.

For EVOLVE2CARE, these principles are particularly relevant as the project supports HealthTech innovators through Living Lab experimentation, real-world validation activities, and collaborative innovation ecosystems. 

Strengthening European Collaboration 

The webinar also demonstrated the value of collaboration between European research and innovation initiatives working towards more open, trusted, and interoperable healthcare systems. 

By bringing together expertise from different projects and communities, the session created an opportunity to exchange knowledge on Open Science, FAIR data practices, and digital health innovation. The discussion highlighted how collaboration across projects can help address common challenges related to data sharing, interoperability, and innovation adoption. 

As the first event of the “Connecting the Dots in Transitional Care” webinar series, the session provided valuable insights for innovators, Living Labs, researchers, policymakers, and healthcare stakeholders seeking to navigate the rapidly evolving digital health landscape. 

EVOLVE2CARE Presented at the Central Macedonia as a Digital Health Experimentation Hub Event

EVOLVE2CARE was presented at the open ecosystem event “Central Macedonia as a Digital Health Experimentation Hub”, held on 10 June 2026 in Thessaloniki. Organised by the Region of Central Macedonia and Health Hub EDIH, with the support of the Hellenic Digital Health Cluster (HDHC), the event brought together representatives from the public sector, healthcare, industry, academia, and innovation ecosystems to explore digital health experimentation opportunities, Living Labs, testbeds, innovation support services, and interregional collaboration. 

Organised in the framework of the UNITE – European Digital Health Valleys project, the event highlighted how regional and European innovation ecosystems can support the development, validation, and deployment of innovative digital health solutions. Discussions focused on experimentation infrastructures, real-world validation, innovation support mechanisms, and opportunities for collaboration across European regions. 

EVOLVE2CARE at the “Engaging the Value of Living Labs & DemoScale Labs for Care and Smart Ageing” Session 

EVOLVE2CARE was featured during the session “Engaging the Value of Living Labs & DemoScale Labs for Care and Smart Ageing”, which explored how Living Labs can support the validation and adoption of digital health solutions, particularly in the areas of care services and smart ageing. 

Representing the project, Despoina Petsani, Research Associate at the Laboratory of Medical Physics and Digital Innovation of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH), presented EVOLVE2CARE and its contribution to advancing HealthTech innovation through Living Lab methodologies. The session was co-presented with George Dimitriou, Cluster Manager of the Hellenic Digital Health Cluster (HDHC).

Living Labs as Enablers of Digital Health Innovation 

The EVOLVE2CARE presentation highlighted the project’s mission to bridge the gap between technological innovation and real-world healthcare implementation. 

A central message of the presentation was that innovation alone is not enough. Digital health solutions must be tested, refined, and validated within realistic healthcare settings involving the stakeholders who will ultimately use them. 

Strengthening Regional Digital Health Ecosystems 

The inclusion of EVOLVE2CARE in the event highlighted the growing importance of experimentation hubs, Living Labs, and regional innovation ecosystems in accelerating healthcare transformation. 

By contributing to the discussions at “Central Macedonia as a Digital Health Experimentation Hub,” EVOLVE2CARE reinforced the importance of real-world validation and stakeholder engagement as key drivers for the future of digital health innovation in Europe. 

EVOLVE2CARE at the EIC Summit 2026: Bringing Living Labs to Europe’s Innovation Stage

EVOLVE2CARE took center stage at the EIC Summit 2026, one of Europe’s flagship events for innovation and entrepreneurship. Held on 4 June 2026, the Summit brought together startups, researchers, investors, policymakers, and innovation support organizations to discuss how breakthrough ideas can successfully reach the market and generate societal impact.

As part of the EUnicorners sessions hosted within the EIC Pavilion, EVOLVE2CARE contributed to two dedicated presentations showcasing how Living Labs can support innovators in navigating the complex journey from concept validation to real-world adoption.

Living Labs as a Competitive Advantage

The first session, “Living Labs as a competitive advantage for European companies” presented by Martina Desole from the European Network of Living Labs (ENoLL), focused on how Living Labs can transform innovation from a high-risk process into a structured, evidence-based pathway.

The presentation highlighted the unique value that Living Labs provide to innovators by offering access to users, facilities, expertise, and real-life testing environments. Through co-creation, experimentation, and validation, Living Labs help innovators reduce uncertainty, identify challenges early, and generate evidence that supports investment and market uptake.

The session emphasized that innovation success depends not only on technological excellence but also on understanding user needs, regulatory requirements, and real-world implementation conditions.

Accelerating HealthTech Innovation in Transitional Care

Later in the day, Despoina Petsani from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki presented the session “Accelerating HealthTech Innovation in Transitional Care through Living Labs: Lessons from the EVOLVE2CARE Project.” The presentation highlighted how EVOLVE2CARE supports innovators in validating HealthTech solutions within transitional care environments through Living Lab methodologies and real-world experimentation.

A central message was that successful healthcare innovation requires more than technological excellence. Living Labs provide innovators with access to users, multidisciplinary expertise, testing infrastructures, and structured co-creation processes that help address challenges related to validation, user acceptance, ethics, and regulatory compliance. The session also showcased AccelUP, the EVOLVE2CARE marketplace connecting innovators with certified Living Lab services, as well as the experimentation vouchers that enable companies to access testing and validation support.

As EVOLVE2CARE continues supporting innovators across Europe, the EIC Summit reinforced a key message: successful healthcare innovation requires more than technology alone. It requires collaboration, validation, and engagement with the people and environments where innovation will ultimately be used.