A hundred ninety-five speakers, 550 participants from 22 countries, and over 30 European projects joined us in Athens to advance the implementation of the European Health Data Space.
One month after its successful completion, Athens Digital Health Week 2026 confirms its growing role as a European meeting point where digital health policy, interoperability initiatives, and national ecosystems align to turn strategy into real-world implementation.
Held from 16 to 20 February 2026 at the Royal Olympic Hotel in Athens, this year’s edition brought together an expanding international community of more than 550 participants from Europe and beyond, including policymakers, national authorities, European institutions, EU-funded projects, healthcare professionals, researchers, industry leaders, and technology vendors.
With the support of 25 scientific organisations and the participation of more than 30 European projects, ADHW2026 demonstrated the increasing need for a space where all key actors of the digital health ecosystem can meet, collaborate, and co-create.
A Unique Platform in the European Landscape
Athens Digital Health Week stands out from traditional conferences. It is not simply a forum for presentations, but a participatory platform of multiple partnering organisations, where policy, implementation, technology, and real-world experience meet.
By design, ADHW enables interaction between:
- European initiatives and EU-funded projects
- National authorities and regulatory bodies
- Healthcare providers and professionals
- Technology vendors, solution providers, and innovators
- Researchers, patient representatives, and ecosystem actors
This unique structure allows discussions to move beyond theory, focusing on alignment, collaboration, and implementation across levels.
Watch the Highlights video for ADHW 2026!
Greece and Cyprus Contributing to the European Digital Health Agenda
A key dimension of ADHW2026 was the strong presence and active role of national authorities from both Greece and Cyprus. IDIKA (the Greek e-Government Centre for Health & Social Security Services) and the National eHealth Authority of Cyprus (NeHA) played a central role, reflecting a model of regional collaboration within the European digital health landscape.
Through their participation in European infrastructures, cross-border services, and multiple EU initiatives, both organisations contribute actively to shaping the emerging European digital health ecosystem, particularly in relation to the European Health Data Space (EHDS). ADHW2026 highlighted how national authorities are not only adapting to European developments but are also actively contributing to their design, testing, and implementation.
The Role of the Market: From Innovation to Deployment
A defining feature of this year’s event was the strong participation of technology vendors and solution providers, underlining the critical role of the market in enabling digital health transformation.
Digital health transformation cannot be achieved through policy and public initiatives alone. It requires active engagement of the private sector, including vendors developing interoperable systems, digital applications, and data-driven services. ADHW2026 provided a space where public authorities, European initiatives, and market players could interact directly, aligning priorities, identifying barriers, and exploring pathways for scalable and sustainable implementation.
Interoperability and Standards as Enablers of Transformation
Another critical dimension highlighted during ADHW2026 was the role of interoperability frameworks and standards organisations as key enablers of digital health transformation. HL7 Hellas, one of the event co-organisers, orchestrated the community building, dialogue, and capacity building in this thematic area.
Organisations and communities working on standards —including those focused on health data exchange, interoperability frameworks, and implementation guidelines— are not merely technical contributors. They act as catalysts for change, enabling interoperability not only at technical level but across policy, organisational, and cross-border dimensions.
Their work underpins the transition toward a connected European health data ecosystem, ensuring that digital health solutions are interoperable, trustworthy, and aligned with common specifications. ADHW2026 provided a space where these communities could engage directly with policymakers, national authorities, EU initiatives, and market actors reinforcing their role as foundational enablers of the emerging European digital health landscape.
From European Policy to Real-World Implementation
At the heart of ADHW2026 was the transition toward the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the practical realities of implementation.
Sessions throughout the week explored:
- The evolution of national digital health systems and their alignment with European frameworks
- The implementation of the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF)
- The role of interoperability, governance, and trust in enabling cross-border data exchange
- The development of citizen-centred digital services, including digital wallets and AI-enabled applications
- The importance of secondary use of health data for research, innovation, and policy.
Importantly, discussions focused on concrete use cases, readiness, and testing environments, reflecting a clear shift from policy design to operational deployment.
Connecting Projects, Institutions, and Ecosystems
A defining feature of ADHW2026 has been its ability to connect European projects with national ecosystems in a shared working environment.
Workshops and co-creation sessions enabled stakeholders to:
- translate European policy objectives into practical implementation steps
- identify technical, organisational, and regulatory gaps
- align use cases and priorities across projects and countries
- strengthen collaboration between institutions, implementers, and innovators.
This reflects a broader transformation in Europe, where digital health is evolving from fragmented initiatives into interconnected, collaborative ecosystems.
A Growing Community of Practice
Beyond individual sessions, ADHW2026 reinforced the emergence of a European community of practice in digital health, bringing together actors who are actively shaping the future of health systems.
The diversity of topics —including interoperability, telemedicine, AI, prevention, public health, and patient-centred care— highlighted the systemic nature of digital transformation and the need for coordinated action across sectors.
Looking Ahead
The scale, participation, and outcomes of Athens Digital Health Week 2026 confirm its evolution into a unique European platform for dialogue, collaboration, and implementation. As Europe advances toward the European Health Data Space, the need for spaces that connect policy, technology, and real-world application becomes increasingly critical.
Athens Digital Health Week will continue to serve this role, bringing together policymakers, institutions, projects, and market actors to align strategies, share experience, and accelerate implementation across Europe.
Read more about various sessions on our News section
