VELES at Clusters Meet Regions 2026
VELES partners joined the Clusters Meet Regions event in Attica before gathering in Athens for dedicated consortium discussions, strengthening connections across Europe’s health and life sciences innovation ecosystems.
On 6–7 October 2026, Athens became a meeting point for European innovation ecosystems, bringing together clusters, researchers, companies, public authorities, and other stakeholders to explore how collaboration can help turn innovation into real-world impact.
The VELES project was part of these discussions, participating in Clusters Meet Regions in Attica on 6–7 October, followed by a consortium meeting hosted by the Hellenic Digital Health Cluster (HDHC). Together, these activities offered opportunities to exchange knowledge, build new connections, and explore how stronger cross-border cooperation can advance digital health and health data spaces across Europe.
Connecting regional ecosystems to scale innovation
Organised by the European Commission through the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP), in partnership with the Region of Attica, the Attica Region Innovation Center, and Regional Development of Attica, Clusters Meet Regions brought together 165 participants from 19 countries at the Athens Conservatoire.
Under the theme of scaling innovation through clusters, strengthening regional competitiveness, and fostering ecosystem collaboration, the event addressed a central challenge facing European innovation: how to move from research and promising ideas to solutions that reach the market.
Discussions highlighted that scientific and technological capabilities alone are not enough. Access to investment, predictable funding, regulatory alignment, and stronger connections between research and industry are essential for innovation to progress. Clusters play an important role in this process by building trust, connecting relevant stakeholders, and creating opportunities for partnerships across regions and countries.
During the event, nine clusters presented their ecosystems, services, and potential contributions to European partnerships. A dedicated matchmaking session followed, generating 72 meetings and creating opportunities to explore new collaborations and project ideas.
VELES partners Health Life Sciences Bulgaria, Imago-MOL, and HDHC also presented their services and activities, demonstrating how clusters can connect businesses, research organisations, and other innovation actors.
Addressing the challenges of digital health innovation
Digital health and healthcare innovation were important topics throughout the event. During an interactive lab focused on innovation in Europe, participants explored the challenges facing innovators and identified opportunities for closer cooperation between clusters, European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs), research institutions, companies, and public authorities.
The discussions highlighted that progress in health innovation often depends on more than research breakthroughs. Fragmented regulatory processes, limited awareness of existing infrastructure, high certification costs, and difficulties accessing investment can all slow the path from innovation to adoption.
These challenges reinforce the need for coordinated action across regional and European ecosystems. Stronger partnerships can help stakeholders share expertise, make better use of available resources, and create more effective pathways for digital health solutions to reach healthcare systems and patients.
For VELES, these exchanges were particularly relevant to its mission of strengthening excellence and cross-border collaboration in health data spaces across Cyprus, Bulgaria, Greece, and Romania.
As part of the programme, participants also visited Athens Life Tech Park, Greece’s first biotechnology park, to learn more about the country’s developing life sciences ecosystem and its potential to support research, innovation, and entrepreneurship. The programme also included a presentation of GATE and the VELES project by the project coordinator.
