HUMAN Study Visit in Porto: Advancing Europe’s Healthcare 5.0 Transformation

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HUMAN project, establishing a framework for collaborative efforts toward human-centred digital health policies across the continent

24 March 2026 - HUMAN project

ERNACT led and Interreg Europe funded HUMAN project partners gathered in Porto (Portugal) on 12–13 March 2026 for a two-day study visit hosted by the University of Porto. This event represented the second in-person exchange of experience for the HUMAN project, establishing a framework for collaborative efforts toward human-centred digital health policies across the continent.

Day 1: Telehealth and Regional Contexts
The visit commenced at the University of Porto with a focus on the digital transformation of healthcare systems.

Thematic Seminar on Telehealth: Led by Filipe Freitas Pinto (knokcare), this session examined practical telehealth solutions and the requirements for scaling remote care. Partners analysed the challenges of expanding telemedicine, specifically regarding accessibility, patient engagement, and interoperability.
Context Analysis Review: Porto4Ageing (University of Porto) facilitated a review of regional stakeholder consultations. These insights into digital readiness and policy gaps will inform the project’s Joint Action Plan, ensuring that subsequent policy recommendations address specific community requirements.

Day 2: Healthcare 5.0 at UPTEC
The second day was held at UPTEC (Science and Technology Park of the University of Porto), providing an overview of Portugal’s HealthTech ecosystem.

Innovation Spotlight: Participants engaged with various Healthcare 5.0 solutions, including:

- Bebiana Sá Moura (Virtuleap): Demonstrating VR technologies for cognitive health.
- Ricardo Correia (VirtualCare): Presenting digital tools for personalised patient monitoring and continuity of care.

EU Funding and Policy: Ana Rita Pinto (AICIB), National Contact Point for Horizon Europe and EU4Health, outlined available EU funding instruments. This guidance is intended to assist partners as they develop future policy pathways and investment strategies.
Site Visit and Research Engagement: A guided tour of UPTEC provided opportunities to meet researchers and start-ups from Fraunhofer Portugal AICOS. The organisation shared their latest digital health projects, illustrating models for how "Healthcare 5.0" can be more human-centred, inclusive, and connected.

Conclusion and Future Objectives
The Porto study visit resulted in strengthened partnerships and a more comprehensive understanding of regional healthcare needs. The hospitality provided by the University of Porto facilitated a productive environment for professional exchange. The HUMAN Project continues its work with a defined purpose: to assist European regions in implementing a human-centred digital transformation of healthcare.

Click here to email Maixa Zabaleta at ERNACT for further information

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