Speaker: Søren Hjortshøj, MD, Medical Director, Aalborg University Hospital, North Denmark Region.

Location: Koncertsalen

Panel 1:

• Svend Særkjær, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior & Health, Denmark
• Carmen Laplaza Santos, Head of Health Innovations and Ecosystems, DG RTD, European Commission
• Elizabeth Toller, Director General, Health Care Strategies, Health Canada, Government of Canada 
• Jakob Krogh, CEO, North Denmark Region

Location: Koncertsalen

P1: Dual-Use Innovation in Health and Defense - Unlocking Cross-Sector Potential for Resilient Care Systems (Theme: Collaboration)
Europe is facing growing demands for both national defense preparedness and healthcare system transformation. The Danish Defence is currently scaling up its operational capabilities, including field medical services, while the healthcare sector is under pressure due to demographic changes, workforce shortages, and a rising need for innovative health technologies.  Although the mandates differ, the two sectors share critical challenges in areas such as emergency response, logistics, training, and technology deployment. Strengthening collaboration across these domains—anchored in academic research and clinical practice—offers new pathways to build resilient, interoperable systems that serve both civil and military needs.

Speakers: Brigadier Jesper Momme, Commanders of the Danish Defence Medical Command & Søren Hjortshøj, MD, Medical Director, Aalborg University Hospital, North Denmark Region, Peter Sperling, Chief Innovation Officer, National Defence Technology Centre

Location: Koncertsalen
 

W1: Transformative Ecosystem Arena: Connecting the dots in the health ecosystem – part 1. (Theme: Ecosystems) 

Join the Transformative Ecosystem Arena to explore the groundbreaking achievements of selected health and care ecosystems. We spotlight two pioneering initiatives that demonstrate how ecosystems can evolve beyond project-based funding—toward sustainable, inclusive, and data-driven transformation.

• Mooi Maasvallei (Netherlands) is a cross-sectoral regional network spanning three municipalities and regions. It fosters community-led collaboration rooted in the philosophy of Positive Health, integrating data, education, and preventive care to build livable and equitable communities.
• TreC (Italy) is a digital ecosystem from Trento that showcases how personalized digital health services and integrated technologies can reshape care delivery. It emphasizes innovation, interoperability, and citizen empowerment in managing health.

This workshop is ideal for policymakers, practitioners, R&D organizations, service user representatives, and companies. It will inspire participants to support and implement innovative health and care models. The session concludes with expert insights on adapting these models to drive innovation (Transformative Ecosystem Arena – Part 2).

Speakers:
Pauline Terwijn, Board of Mooi Maasvallei Network, Netherlands
Riccardo Farina, MSc, PhD, Policy Officer, Department of Health and Social Policies, Autonomous Province of Trento, Italy

Hosts:
Sanna Tuurnas, Director, Adjunct Professor
Sofi Perikangas, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Tampere University
Transforming Health and Care Systems Programme (THCS)

Location: Intimsalen

W1: Transformative Ecosystem Arena: Connecting the dots in the health ecosystem - part 2  (Theme: Ecosystems)

This panel explores how health and care ecosystems can become engines of systemic change. Drawing on the experiences of Mooi Maasvallei and TreC+ (presented in Part 1), the discussion centers on:

• What drives transformation in health and care ecosystems—highlighting the roles of community engagement, digital innovation, and strategic alignment.
• Why ecosystems matter—examining their long-term impact on improving health systems and well-being.
• How to support them—identifying the governance structures, policy instruments, and institutional conditions that enable ecosystems to thrive.

Panelists include:

• Vanessa Duterloo, Programme Leader, Mooi Maasvallei Network
• Riccardo Farina, Policy Officer, Autonomous Province of Trento
• Minna van Gerven, Professor, University of Helsinki
• Donna Henderson, Head of International Engagement, NHS Scotland
• Sari Rautio, President, EPP Group, European Committee of the Regions
• Karsten Vrangbæk, Professor, University of Copenhagen

Host: Sanna Tuurnas (director, adjunct professor), Tampere University, Transforming Health and Care Systems Programme.

Location: Intimsalen

W2: Digital Health Literacy: An Essential Competence in a Transformed Digitalised Healthcare System (Theme: Competences & skills)
A transformed, digitalized healthcare system requires new competencies to ensure sustainability. One crucial competence is digital health literacy, which is essential for the optimal use of digital health services within prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Speaker: Diana Schack Thoft, PhD, Docent, Research Manager, Applied Health & Technology, University College North Denmark, Lisa Korsbakke Emtekær Hæsum, PhD, Associate Professor, Jacob Østergaard Madsen,  MSc.OT, PhD, Senior lecturer, Department of Occupational Therapy and the Research Center for Health and Applied Technology, & Charlotte Brun Torup, MsC Nursing, PhD, Docent, Research Centre for Health and Applied Technology, University College Northern Denmark.

Location: Klassisk sal
 

W3: Regulatory barriers for development and integration of digital solutions such as AI in health care systems (Theme: Regulatory barriers)
Gain a clear understanding of the regulatory pathway for developing AI healthcare solutions, from concept to deployment, and how EU laws and regulations interconnect—empowering innovation and improving implementation in healthcare.

Speakers: Stina B Jonasson, PT, PhD, Project Manager, Skåne University Hospital  & Krzysztof Tupikowski, MD, PhD, FEBU, Head of Urological Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology,  Head of Subdivision of Urology, Lower Silesian Oncology and Hermatology Center

Panel: Niels Ole Andersen, Regulatory Expert – Medical Devices, noaQA  ApS, Heikki Pitkänen, CEO of Lean Entries, & Sara Zullino, Scientific Lead AI for Medical Applications at EATRIS.

Localtion: Sydbank Lounge

P2: Scaling Health Solutions Globally – From Local Impact to International Reach (Theme: Investment & Business) 
This workshop explores how health solutions can be successfully scaled across borders —from local pilot projects to global implementation. Key themes include, among others, navigating regulatory landscapes, adapting to cultural contexts, and leveraging technology. A central focus is on forming strategic partnerships as a key enabler for sustainable and scalable impact in diverse health systems. Real-world examples will illustrate how collaboration drives success in global health innovation.

Speaker: Diana Arsovic Nielsen, CEO, Danish Life Science Cluster

Location: Øvre Foyer

P3: New cross-sectoral approaches for treatment of children and youth to improve their mental health (Theme: Patient involvement, technology, and collaboration)
The psychiatry department in North Jutland Region has received a historically large grant from the private Novo Nordisk Foundation and the Obel Family Foundation for a groundbreaking 5-year project that aims to ensure more, better, and faster treatment for children and adolescents with treatment-requiring mental distress and mental illness. To achieve the overall vision of better access to higher-quality treatment with improved outcomes for children and adolescents' mental well-being and daily functioning, this presentation on “Bedst for Os” will focus on these themes:

• Improving cross-sectoral collaboration and better coordination for children and adolescents experiencing mental distress and mental illness.
• Developing family-focused assessment and treatment in child and adolescent psychiatry.
• Implementing evidence-based digital solutions in child and adolescent psychiatry.
• Building competencies for professionals across sectors.
• Co-creation with children, young people, their parents, and professionals across general practice, municipal actors, and child and adolescent psychiatry is a core principle of Bedst for Os.

Speaker: Jan Mainz, MD, MPA, PhD, Director of Psychiatry, North Denmark Region & Clinical Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University

Location: Koncertsalen

W1: Transformative Ecosystem Arena Part 2: Connecting the dots in the health ecosystem (Theme: Ecosystems)

Speakers:  Host: Sanna Tuurnas (director, adjunct professor), Tampere University, Transforming Health and Care Systems Programme. Panelists: Donna Henderson, Head of International Engagement for Digital Health and Care, NHS NSS / Scottish Government, Sari Rautio, European Committee of Regions, President of EPP group, Minna van Gerven (Professor of Social Policy, University of Helsinki), Karsten Vrangbæk (Professor, Political Science and Public Health, University of Copenhagen) 

Location: Intimsalen
 

W4: Caring for Older People – Shifting the Paradigm  (Theme: Prevention)
Speaker: Graham Ellis, Professor, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, Honoary Chair, Glasgow Caledonian University

Location: Klassisk sal
 

W5: Revolutionizing Healthcare with AI: Smarter, Faster, Better (Theme: Technologies)
Unlocking AI's Potential: Transforming Healthcare Today and Tomorrow. Provide the audience with insights into the potential of AI in healthcare. Highlight ethical considerations related to AI implementation. Identify barriers to the adoption of AI solutions. Raise awareness and create dialogue of AI and its role in the future healthcare system.

Speaker: Birthe Dinesen, Professor in Digital Health and Head of Laboratory of Welfare Technologies - Digital Health and Rehabilitation, ExerciseTech, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Denmark

Location: Sydbank Lounge

 
P4: Green Hospitals - how the health care system contributes to the European Green Deal Agenda (Theme: Sustainability)

Speaker: Dr. Christoph Csoklich, Senior Health Expert, Climate Neutrality and Sustainable Transformation in Health, Austrian National Public Health Institute

Location: Øvre Foyer

P5: Using digital health technologies for downsizing of hospitals and improving health care in the patients’ home (Theme: Transformation)

Speaker: Kristian Kidholm, PhD, Professor, Head of Research for Innovative Medical Technology, University of Southern Denmark & Odense University Hospital

Location: Koncertsalen
 

W6: Social prescribing as an investment case (Theme: Investment & Business)
Join us to explore how investment thinking can unlock the potential of social prescribing as a strategic approach in healthcare. Based on international experiences and the ongoing Danish pilot initiative, we will discuss how integrating social prescribing into primary care can promote health equity, reduce healthcare demand, and drive system transformation.

Speakers: Elisabeth Andreew, The Social Investement Fond & Annemarie Zacho-Broe, not a box

Location: Sydbank Lounge
 

W7: The Role of Universities in Health Missions: From Research to Societal Change 
How can universities become real agents of change in health? This session explores how mission-driven research, co-created with healthcare and citizens, can deliver better health outcomes, reduce inequality, and strengthen sustainability. Drawing on concrete cases from Aalborg Universitys Health mission which connects science, policy, and practice in ways with the potential to improve the future of European healthcare.

Speaker: Michael Skovdal Rathleff, Professor, Aalborg University Hospital & Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University

Location: Klassisk Sal
 

W8: The role of patients and citizens to secure healthcare sustainability

Speakers: Antonella Cardone, Director, Cancer Patient Europe and Birgit Bauer, Founder - Managing Partner & Project Manager Data Saves Lives Germany

Location: Intimsalen
 

P6:  Biomarkers – Unlocking the Potential for Integrated Health Care 
Biomarkers represent a significant opportunity to advance integrated healthcare by enabling earlier diagnostics and facilitating simple, standardized testing—potentially even in primary care settings such as general practitioners' offices. As healthcare systems across Europe face increasing pressure from demographic shifts, chronic diseases, and resource limitations, biomarkers may serve as a pivotal tool in shifting from reactive to preventive care models. This workshop will explore how biomarkers can support clinical decision-making, improve patient stratification, and enhance care coordination across sectors.

Speaker: Rushdy Ahmad, PhD, Director, Wyss Diagnostics Accelerator, Wyss Institute, Harvard University

Location: Øvre Foyer

Panel 2:

• Elina Drakvik, Senior Lead, Finnish Innovation Fund
• Magda Krakowiak, Director, EIT Health
• Niklas Blomberg, Director, Innovative Health Initiative
• Henrik Lundum, CEO, NOVI

Location: Koncertsalen

Panel 3:

• Stefan Volk Jovinge, MD PhD, Head of Research, Region Skåne
• Jens Sand Andersen, VP Business Development, Ascom
  
• Tara Kiran, MD, MSc, Associate Professor, Department of Family & Community Care, University of Toronto
• Kazimierz Murzyn, Director, Klaster Life Science Krakow
  
   

P7: Tracking Low-Value Care - The Danish 'Vælg Klogt' Approach (Theme: Sustainability)
Low-value care—unnecessary tests, treatments, and procedures—wastes resources and can even harm patients. In Denmark, the Vælg Klogt (Choosing Wisely) initiative addresses this challenge through a unique collaboration between healthcare professionals and patients. Together, we identify areas of overuse, develop evidence-based recommendations, and ensure that changes in clinical practice align with both professional expertise and patient perspectives. This talk will explore our structured approach, key successes, and how involving patients directly strengthens the fight against low-value care.

Speaker: Susanne Axelsen, MD, PhD, Leading physician, Associate Professor, Aarhus University Hospital, Chairman of the Danish Medical Societies & Head of 'Vælg Klogt' Danmark

Location: Koncertsalen
 

W9: Implementing a sustainable procurement strategy and policy in healthcare organizations - The Procure4health perspective (Theme: procurement)
Sustainable procurement is essential for the future of healthcare. This panel will explore how innovation-driven procurement strategies can enhance sustainability while addressing key health and care challenges. Experts from Procure4Health will share insights from their action plan, showcasing tangible results and recommendations.Join us to learn how procurers and suppliers can collaborate to create effective, sustainable procurement policies that drive meaningful impact.
Key Highlights: 

• How procurement of innovation fosters sustainability
• Practical examples and case studies
• Interactive Q&A with H&C leaders

Speaker: Carlos Larrañeta Gómez-Caminero, Coordinator of the Technical Office for Public Procurement of Innovation, Regional Ministry of Health of Andalusia & Coordinator of Procure4Health

Panel: Danny Havenith, CEO MercurHosp asb & Elisa Frenz, Managing Director of Health Proc Europe

Location: Klassisk sal
 

W10: Accelerating Clinical Innovation (Theme: Collaboration, Investment and Business)
How can we ensure that groundbreaking healthcare innovations don’t get stuck in research but actually reach patients? Join this session to explore BETA.HEALTH, Denmark’s national accelerator for clinical innovation, and learn how structured funding, hospital integration, and strong partnerships can bridge the gap from research to real-world impact.

Speakers: : Rune Holdt, Co-Director BETA.HEALTH & Head of Research & Innovation, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen & Jasper Nijkamp, Co-leads BETA.Health & Head of Innovation and International Affairs, Aarhus University Hospital & Associate Professor in Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University

Location: Intimsalen
 

W11: Matchmaking sessions on Business/Investments; Competences; Transformation (Theme: Networking)

Speaker: Aija Konisevska Azadi, Senior Project Manager, Enterprise Europe Network

Location: Sydbank Lounge
 

P8: Equality and inclusion in Health Care (Theme: Equality in Health)

Speaker: Morten Sodemann, Clinical Professor, Center for Philosophy and Ethics of Health University of Southern Denmark and Odense University Hospital

P5: Using digital health technologies for downsizing of hospitals and improving health care in the patients’ home (Theme: Transformation)

Speaker: Kristian Kidholm, PhD, Professor, Head of Research for Innovative Medical Technology, University of Southern Denmark & Odense University Hospital

Location: Koncertsalen
 

W6: Social prescribing as an investment case (Theme: Investment & Business)
Join us to explore how investment thinking can unlock the potential of social prescribing as a strategic approach in healthcare. Based on international experiences and the ongoing Danish pilot initiative, we will discuss how integrating social prescribing into primary care can promote health equity, reduce healthcare demand, and drive system transformation.

Speakers: Elisabeth Andreew, The Social Investement Fond & Annemarie Zacho-Broe, not a box

Location: Sydbank Lounge
 

W7: The Role of Universities in Health Missions: From Research to Societal Change 
How can universities become real agents of change in health? This session explores how mission-driven research, co-created with healthcare and citizens, can deliver better health outcomes, reduce inequality, and strengthen sustainability. Drawing on concrete cases from Aalborg Universitys Health mission which connects science, policy, and practice in ways with the potential to improve the future of European healthcare.

Speaker: Michael Skovdal Rathleff, Professor, Aalborg University Hospital & Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University

Location: Klassisk Sal
 

W8: The role of patients and citizens to secure healthcare sustainability

Speakers: Antonella Cardone, Director, Cancer Patient Europe and Birgit Bauer, Founder - Managing Partner & Project Manager Data Saves Lives Germany

Location: Intimsalen
 

P6:  Biomarkers – Unlocking the Potential for Integrated Health Care 
Biomarkers represent a significant opportunity to advance integrated healthcare by enabling earlier diagnostics and facilitating simple, standardized testing—potentially even in primary care settings such as general practitioners' offices. As healthcare systems across Europe face increasing pressure from demographic shifts, chronic diseases, and resource limitations, biomarkers may serve as a pivotal tool in shifting from reactive to preventive care models. This workshop will explore how biomarkers can support clinical decision-making, improve patient stratification, and enhance care coordination across sectors.

Speaker: Rushdy Ahmad, PhD, Director, Wyss Diagnostics Accelerator, Wyss Institute, Harvard University

Location: Øvre Foyer

P9: Collaborative and innovative approaches to improve health care for patients within primary care (Theme: New collaborations)

Speaker: Tara Kiran, MD, MSc, Associate Professor, Department of Family & Community Care, University of Toronto

Location: Koncertsalen
 

W12: Home is Where the Health Is: The importance of research through an example of developing and evaluating the first evidence based Danish hospital-at-home model (Theme: Transformation)
The aim of this workshop is to highlight the significance of research in developing and evaluating innovative healthcare models. Through an example with the creation and assessment of Denmark’s first evidence-based hospital-at-home model, showcasing how such research can lead to effective healthcare solutions that hospital level treatment into patients’ homes, while also ensuring patient safety through evaluation and evidence-based practices.

Speaker: Charlotte Demuth von Sydow, Deputy Chief at The Department for Clinical Research at North Zealand Hospital

Location: Intimsalen
 

W13: Designing a strategy for the future health workforce - combining prevention & innovation (Theme: Competences, Sustainability)

Pitch: Despite increased investment, many Member States continue to face critical challenges—including ageing populations and workforces, staff burnout, and difficulties engaging younger professionals. Imbalances in workforce distribution and skills further complicate the landscape, even in high-income countries. This panel debate and workshop will explore innovative approaches to health workforce skills and planning to help bridge future needs and support sustainable health across the EU.

Speakers: Lars Münter, Founder and International Director, Nordic Wellbeing Academy & Development Director, European Health Futures Forum. Nina Sønderberg, National Director, Nordic Wellbeing Academy

Panel: Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, World Health Organisation, Charlotte Marchandise, Executive Director, EUPHA & Stella Goeschl, Medical Doctor, Youth Advisory Group - JA PreventNCD

Location: Sydbank Lounge
 

W14: Building Danish infrastructure to support Clinical Trials in Primary Care.
In Denmark, more patients will be treated outside hospitals – at home or in primary care. As healthcare shifts towards primary care, research must follow! Strategies to strengthen research through clinical trials in primary care are an important cornerstone in securing better access, more inclusion and diversity. This session will explore learnings from Denmark on building a national infrastructure to support clinical trials in primary care - an inclusive clinical trial ecosystem to drive health equity.

Speakers: Jens Søndergaard, Professor and Head of the Research Unit for General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, Michelle Hjelm Birknow, MSc Translational Medicine, Ph.D., Head of Clinical Relations, Trail Nation, Tina Lein Rasmussen, M.Arch., Project Manager for Research & Innovation, Research Unit for General Practice, University of Southern Denmark, Nanna Herning Svensson, PhD, Researcher and Project Coordinator, Research & Innovation, Research Unit for General Practice, University of Southern Denmark

Location: Klassisk sal
 

P10: THCS – Knowledge Hub – maximising the value of knowledge in transforming health and social care systems (Theme: Ecosystems)
The transformation of health and social care systems is a very complex,  and dynamic process, involving the wide range of stakeholders and organisations are seeking advice and support in this process. The Knowledge Hub has the ambition to address these needs by providing a  platform for accessing and sharing evidence and experience tailored to local needs, facilitating access to the right expertise and experience, connecting people and signposting to other relevant resources.

Speaker: Donna Henderson/Andrea Pavlickova, Digital Health and Care Directorate, NHS Scottish Government, UK

Location: Øvre Foyer

Panel 4:

• Mette Kierkgaard, Minister for Senior Citizens, Denmark
• Natasha Azzopardi Muscat, Director of the Division of Country Health Policies and Systems, World Health Organisation
• Anders Mohn Frafjord, Deputy Director, Oslo University Hospital 
• Birgit Bauer, Founder, Data Saves Lives Germany
  
   

• Lars Dahl Pedersen, CEO, Aalborg University Hospital, North Denmark Region
  
• Mette Kierkgaard, Minister for Senior Citizens, Denmark
  
• Carmen Laplaza Santos, Head of Health Innovations and Ecosystems, DG RTD, European Commission