GeneH proposes to create an excellence hub in gene therapy through strategic partnerships within and beyond Widening countries. Despite gene therapy's recognized priority in genomic medicine and its potential for high-curative economic impact, challenges persist in its development process, from conceptualization to commercialization. GeneH intends to address these challenges by serving as a catalyst for overcoming barriers and expediting research translation. To achieve this, GeneH will establish a robust and sustainable hub that builds upon already established ecosystems in the field and recent H2020 WIDENING projects to implement centers of excellence in gene therapy (GeneT in PT and CTGCT in SL). The academic partners at its core, namely, the University of Coimbra (UC) in Portugal and the National Institute of Chemistry (KI/NIC) in Slovenia , have reached substantial achievements by partnering with industry (Bluepharma, Biocant Park, Biosistemika, Jafral), hospitals (CHUC EPE), policy makers (CCDRC, RRA LUR), ecosystem/innovation supporters (SIH EEIG, IPN), and patient associations (APAHE, ZOPS). Partners in the two ecosystems share a common goal: treating life-threatening or chronically debilitating diseases considered incurable. By harnessing the combined expertise and resources of its partners, GeneH aims to drive cross-sectoral collaboration through its 4-helix network, in a multidimensional approach that will gather further investment, address ethical and regulatory aspects, implement de-risking approaches, educational and training programes, joint R&I programs, and prepare the path for clinical trials of new gene therapy products, while actively engaging society. By positioning itself as a leading hub in gene therapy, in line with regional, national, and European strategies, GeneH seeks to contribute to European competitive leadership globally, advancing healthcare, fostering economic growth, and making a positive societal impact.

The IFIGENEIA Excellence Hub aspires to introduce, develop and deliver the complete design study and the precise business plan for the implementation in Europe of the LINear ACcelerator (LINAC) technology in radiation therapy, diagnostic and theranostic procedures. Linear Accelerator technologies offer a unique, compact, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for sustainable production, management, accessibility, and promotion of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging technologies. Unlike current radioisotope production methods, mostly reliant on older nuclear reactors using highly enriched uranium with associated concerns about global availability, safety, and environmental issues, or on cyclotrons limited to a narrow range of radioisotopes, LINACs enable the production of a broader range due to their tunability in energy, targets, and currents. The IFIGENEIA Excellence Hub aims to create the complete design and implementation study for a cutting-edge LINAC facility in the Balkans, by creating in Greece, Slovenia and Cyprus Excellence Hubs dedicated to developing and implement a LINAC-based facility, capable of producing a diverse range of marketable radioisotopes. Interconnected Hubs will collaboratively pursue national and international partnerships to achieve shared strategic goals and improve value chains. The project focuses on a cross-border R&I strategy, an investment plan, and implementing innovative products and services across the hubs. Each Hub will unite regional stakeholders in healthcare, culture, academia, businesses, public sectors, and societal actors, working toward sustainable nuclear medicine and culture in their regions. IFIGENEIA aims to incubate future excellence hubs in the West Balkan region and will provide mentoring to West Balkan countries in the current project. In collaboration with esteemed research centers, IFIGENEIA can create a lasting technological and business framework for nuclear medicine in Europe.

Senior Eco-Nect project will prepare a joint action plan to support the emergence and the development of European ecosystems dedicated to silver economy as well as ensuring the inclusivity and interconnectivity between all the key innovation stakeholders of the sector and cross-sectors. The specific objectives of Senior Eco-Nect are the followings: O.1 – Support the emergence, growth, efficiency, and interconnection of at least 4 European ecosystems dedicated to silver economy. O.2 – Unlock the full potential of silver economy sector by integrating key transversal areas targeting the ageing population beyond the scope of health and care. O.3 – Ensure inclusiveness and interconnectivity between the key innovation players from across the quadruple helix around the sector of silver economy at the local, regional, national, and European level and beyond O.4 – Increase the efficiency and innovation potential of silver economy innovators and projects by addressing key challenges and exploiting the opportunities offered by silver economy O.5 – Encouraging synergies and complementarities between Senior Eco-Nect Joint Action Plan and the innovation programmes of public authorities Six partners representing innovation ecosystems and sectoral networks will join forces and strategies toward the strenghthening of european innovation ecosystem in silver economy: Eurasanté in France, Munster Technological University in Ireland, Slovenian Innovation Hub in Slovenia, Cluster Saude de Galicia in Spain, the European Platform for Sports and Innovation, and the European Network for Accessible Tourism. Their effort will be supported by the engagement of 32 associated partners representing key innovation ecosystems members of the quadruple helix (industry, academia, public authorities and civil society across Europe.

The project focuses on the engagements of existing and needed mechanisms to empower the EIP on AHA ecosystem and the cross-border scale-up of tested and ready-to-use applications towards healthcare. Project brings together supply and demand actors to create sustainable model for innovation scale-up, its integration with stakeholders and the needs for systemic change. Service providers as start-ups, SME-s and large industries need the support of ecosystem, incl. health clusters. Demand actors as health care institutions, health centres, local governments are responsible for service provision to ageing communities and elders. Well-designed cooperation mechanisms in frame of agreed model facilitate regular exchanges between the demand and supply sides as well as whole network, enable to identify the barriers and improve the innovation process in local as well EU level, incl. cross-border deployment of innovations. The role of the policy and whole ecosystem is to encourage innovators to step up with user-centred strategies and transformative solutions. This may lead to the need for change in ecosystem operations to gain the success with mHealth solutions for AHA, more smart age-friendly homes for longer independent living or chronic disease management. Our goal is to identify and support the most important innovation ecosystem elements and encourage the relations between functioning actors by addressing the challenges of innovators in market uptake, and expansion in the domestic and cross-border markets. To reach wider commitment to investment, leading to successful and cost-effective implementation of digitally-enabled, person-centred care solutions, co-creation among policy and ecosystem actors towards long-term investment strategy for more investments into cost-effective digitally-enabling healthcare solutions, is needed. Administrative capacity of regional authorities to support innovation through strict and clear procedures should correspond to supply and demand.