A Decade of Joining the Dots towards Bridging the Data Spaces 

On 3-4 December in Ghent, the 2025 Annual Conference will mark the 10th anniversary of the European Institute for Innovation through Health Data (i~HD). Under the theme “A Decade of Joining the Dots – Towards Bridging Data Spaces,” the event celebrates a decade of progress in connecting fragmented health data ecosystems and building trust, interoperability, and quality in data reuse. It will be an occasion to look back on lessons learned and forward to the next decade of innovation, addressing emerging priorities such as the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the adoption of AI by health systems.  

About the Event 

The two-day program will feature multiple thematic streams exploring both technical and policy-level challenges and topics, including: 

• Getting health systems and stakeholders “AI-ready” 

• Lessons from pilot projects in health data space 

• Ensuring privacy protection in both real and synthetic data spaces 

• Strategies for responsible use of health data, including within the European Health Data Space (EHDS) 

• Assessing and improving data quality, including quality assurance for synthetic data 

• The European electronic health record (EHR) exchange format (and potential extensions) 

• Quality assurance and regulatory frameworks for digital health tools and AI systems 

Moreover, keynote presentations will be delivered by leading figures from institutions, regulatory bodies, and international organizations, including: 

• Niklas Blomberg (Executive Director, Innovative Health Initiative) 

• Ilias Iakovidis (Adviser on Digital Aspects of Green Transition, DG CNECT) 

• David Novillo Ortiz (Unit Head, Data and Digital Health, WHO Regional Office for Europe) 

• Nick Schneider (Head of Division 511, German Federal Ministry of Health) 

• Tomislav Sokol (MEP, European Parliament) 

• Gozde Susuzlu Briggs (Senior Programme Manager, European Patients’ Forum) 

• Ildikó Vajda (Senior Adviser on Digital Care, Dutch Patient Federation) 

• Eric Sutherland (Senior Health Economist, OECD) 

• Yiannos Tolias (Legal Lead on AI and AI Liability in Healthcare, DG SANTE) 

The conference is not just a forum for presentations, but also an occasion for networking, policy influence, and collaboration across sectors. Participants will be able to engage in shaping how health data infrastructures and regulations evolve in Europe, in an event that aligns closely with the rollout and implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS) and the increasing interest in integrating artificial intelligence into healthcare systems.  

Registration is now open! More Info:  

• The 2025 Annual Conference 

• Conference Programme