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.
