The project is being promoted in the region by the Directorate-General for Industry, Competitiveness, Innovation and Business Digital Transformation and the Aragonese Institute of Health Sciences (IACS). On September 11, the IACS auditorium hosted a presentation and working session with representatives of healthcare organizations, companies, universities, research centers and other stakeholders involved in health innovation.
PILOT PROJECTS AND NEW AVENUES FOR COLLABORATION
The session marked the starting point for consolidating an Aragonese ecosystem capable of connecting the needs of the healthcare system with scientific knowledge, technological capabilities and the business community. The aim is to facilitate the development and testing of innovative solutions in real-world settings and, where appropriate, their subsequent integration into the healthcare system.
During the meeting, participants explained how UNITE will be developed in Aragón and what opportunities it offers. The planned actions include creating working groups, collaborating with the healthcare sector, developing pilot projects and participating in European calls aimed at funding new solutions.
Participants also worked in groups made up of healthcare professionals, companies, technology centers and research organizations. The goal was to identify and prioritize Aragón’s main challenges in digital health innovation, seek possible solutions and define shared lines of work. Based on these needs, possible pilot projects and proposals eligible for the project’s first call were put forward.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, DATA AND PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
UNITE is part of the Regional Innovation Valleys (RIV) initiative and is funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe program. The project brings together European regions and organizations linked to healthcare and digital innovation and aims to accelerate the adoption of advanced technologies in response to challenges such as population aging, the shortage of healthcare professionals, accessible and equitable care, and the development of the European Health Data Space.
In Aragón, the initiative is coordinated by the Directorate-General for Industry, IACS, AREX, ARAHEALTH and ITA, with the participation of hospitals, universities, technology centers and companies. The region’s capabilities include artificial intelligence applied to healthcare, health data analysis, predictive modeling, healthy aging, remote patient monitoring and personalized medicine.
Planned actions also include creating a regional catalog of technological and health innovation capabilities, as well as pilot projects and competitive calls to support the development of international collaboration initiatives.
Aragón’s participation in UNITE is aligned with the Government of Aragón’s Innovation Plan 2024-2027 and the Aragón Smart Specialization Strategy (S3 Aragón), particularly in areas such as health and well-being, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, data management, business innovation and knowledge transfer.
