The Health2Innovation project, funded under the Erasmus+ Partnerships for Innovation programme, aims to accelerate the digital and green transition of healthcare by bringing education, entrepreneurship, and innovation ecosystems closer together  

A milestone activity of the project was the Health Innovation Bootcamps hosted at Medicon Valley in Lund, Sweden, by SMILE Incubator — an organisation deeply embedded in venture capital, life-science scale-ups, and international health innovation. 

Through the bootcamps, participants moved beyond theoretical learning and entered a market-driven environment, where ideas were challenged against real investor expectations, regulatory realities, and scalability requirements. 

The Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (IED) supported the participation of JOIST Community startups, whose founders had previously piloted the Health2Innovation course. Their presence at Medicon Valley demonstrated how structured European training programmes can successfully prepare innovators to operate within advanced international ecosystems. 

A highlight of the bootcamps was the lecture delivered by Dr Ioannis Tsougkos, Professor of Medical Physics and Head of Medical Informatics and Biomedical Imaging at the University of Thessaly, titled “Digital Transformation in Medicine: Integrating AI and Extended Reality in Healthcare and Education” 
The lecture stood out for its clarity, scientific depth, and practical relevance, showcasing how AI, XR, and data-driven technologies are already reshaping medical education, diagnosis, and patient care. 

Equally important was the contribution of the Health2Innovation Project Officer, who emphasised the role of European alliances in creating long-term bridges between education, innovation hubs, and market uptake. 

The Health2Innovation Bootcamps at Medicon Valley confirmed a core principle shared by IED, JOIST Innovation Park, the Health Hub, and their communities: innovation flourishes when learning happens inside ecosystems, not in isolation.