Interview with: Konstantinos Michailidis - Head of Directorate General of Internal Organization and Operations of the Region of Central Macedonia

This is the first in a series of "Behind the Scenes" articles in which the UNITE project partners introduce themselves and explain how they will contribute to the transformation of European healthcare.

What motivated you to join the UNITE project, and how does it align with your personal or professional goals?

While a moderate innovator, Thessaloniki region has strong research capabilities. The innovation ecosystem has developed greatly in the last 20 years. There is a huge output in terms of R&D, mainly from public entities and publications. There are also large business associations with experience and capacity, and the last few years has seen the research and the companies collaborate more often. There are many export companies, mainly in the agrifood sector. The region has been able to have many college graduates. 

Can you tell us about your team's expertise and how it contributes to UNITE's mission of transforming healthcare through digital innovation?

The Department of Innovation Support of the Directorate of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Support of the Region is the responsible entity for designing, monitoring, implementation and revising of RIS3 of the region and to undertake actions and initiatives that promote innovation in our region. The region has many important innovation producers such as Aristotle University, the Centre for Research and Technology, incubators, clusters, and large companies. The region's role is to foster innovation and entrepreneurial ecosystems and to strengthen cooperation among them and promote their extroversion. The role of this project is envisaged to implement some activities as a testbed for several applications and to enhance capacity building for the specific thematic area.

We have already run several projects on health, and we have started building knowledge and vision around the issue. We have a ‘One Stop Liaison Office’ with links to the market that can support the open call, a close collaboration, and trusted relationships with the whole ecosystem (public and private) and finally there is an Open Innovation initiative recently started (2023) focusing on Innovation for Society.

What are the most pressing healthcare challenges in your region, and how do you believe the UNITE project will address them?

The Region of Central Macedonia faces several critical healthcare challenges, which the UNITE project aims to address through innovative solutions. Key issues include the need to provide equitable healthcare access, especially for disadvantaged groups such as the elderly, and to ensure that all population segments can benefit from the rapid advances in digital technologies. Through its focus on DeepTech innovations, the UNITE project seeks to enhance healthcare inclusivity by leveraging artificial intelligence, neural networks, and large language models to support personalized and scalable health services.

Another pressing challenge is the need to improve remote healthcare services, which became particularly relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is a high demand for more human-centered remote care options that allow individuals to manage their health effectively from home, thus reducing the strain on hospitals and improving the quality of life for patients. The UNITE project’s emphasis on combining big data, IoT, and user-centric design aligns well with these needs, potentially transforming remote care accessibility and quality.

Furthermore, addressing the interoperability of health data across regions is essential. The UNITE project supports the European Health Data Space initiative, which promotes seamless health data exchange and integration. This effort will enable better-informed decision-making, enhance patient outcomes, and foster collaboration across European health systems.

UNITE’s focus on digital innovations aims to empower healthcare workers with advanced digital tools, thus enhancing workforce efficiency and resilience. Through these targeted approaches, the UNITE project will play a vital role in strengthening healthcare in the Region of Central Macedonia. 

How do you ensure that ethical considerations and patient privacy are prioritized in the development of new healthcare technologies?

To ensure ethical considerations and prioritize patient privacy in developing new healthcare technologies within the UNITE project, we adhere strictly to high ethical standards and data protection laws. Guided by EU regulations and values, UNITE prioritizes transparency, fairness, and limited data use throughout all stages of technology development.

Firstly, compliance with the GDPR ensures that personal data is handled lawfully, fairly, and securely. UNITE beneficiaries are required to limit data use to only what is essential, ensuring data accuracy and storing it only for necessary durations. Where feasible, all personal data is anonymized or pseudonymized, thereby reducing privacy risks. 

In addition to data protection, all activities under UNITE undergo ethical review processes aligned with the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity. The project mandates obtaining all necessary approvals from ethics committees and regulatory bodies before engaging in any activities involving personal data or ethical concerns. By enforcing these ethical assessments and continuous audits, UNITE addresses potential ethical risks tied to patient autonomy, informed consent, and confidentiality. 

Furthermore, UNITE follows the FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) for data management, aligning with the GDPR and fostering data transparency and integrity. This approach ensures compliance with privacy standards while promoting open science where appropriate​. 

Lastly, UNITE emphasizes a patient-centered design that includes healthcare professionals and patients as co-developers, ensuring that technologies meet end-user needs without compromising ethical standards. Through these frameworks, UNITE strengthens trust in digital health solutions, empowering patients and healthcare providers alike.

How do you plan to engage with other consortium partners to ensure the smooth implementation of innovative solutions across regions?

Collaboration with consortium partners is integral to the UNITE project’s strategy for successful, cross-regional implementation of innovative solutions. To support this, several structured initiatives have been put in place.

Work Package 4 (WP4) focuses on Penta-Helix engagement, which emphasizes extensive outreach and awareness through open calls for the Digital Health Innovation Portfolio. WP4 includes activities such as interactive sessions, regional matchmaking events, and iterative feedback to help refine Innovation Challenges, creating a robust foundation for collaborative project goals across different regions​. 

The UNITE Cloud platform, established under Subtask 1.4.3, acts as a centralized resource, serving as both a communication hub and a repository for project-related materials. This platform facilitates seamless access to updates, documents, and interactive tools that support synchronized project work across consortium members​. 

Ecosystem Working Groups (EWGs) are another essential component, established to enhance interregional coordination. Comprising experts from each region, EWGs promote knowledge sharing, alignment on strategic innovation objectives, and hands-on collaboration. They arrange virtual meetings, annual ecosystem events, and local peer-training sessions to support skill-building and mutual understanding across the regions​. 

Additionally, the Joint Mission Governance Board provides oversight and orchestrates dialogue between EWGs and regional policy makers, ensuring the alignment of regional goals with the project’s broader mission. This structure ensures that each region’s unique needs are considered while keeping the consortium unified under shared objectives​. 

Through these initiatives, the UNITE project fosters strong, ongoing engagement, ensuring that all partners are aligned in implementing impactful digital health solutions across regions.

How do you plan to involve local stakeholders, such as healthcare providers or policymakers, in the success of UNITE?

To involve local stakeholders, including healthcare providers and policymakers, in the success of the UNITE project, the approach will center around collaborative engagement through structured frameworks like the Penta-Helix model. This model ensures that local healthcare entities, government representatives, industry partners, academia, and civil society are integrally involved in project activities.

To achieve this, the Region of Central Macedonia will leverage Ecosystem Working Groups (EWGs) as a key platform. These groups are designed to foster knowledge sharing and co-create solutions tailored to local healthcare needs, promoting an adaptable regulatory and innovation-friendly environment​. Regular learning circle sessions, consultation panels, and workshops will be held, providing direct channels for stakeholders to influence project activities, share feedback, and offer insights. This engagement will enable local healthcare providers and policymakers to contribute actively to the co-design and regulatory alignment of digital health innovations.

Additionally, targeted dissemination strategies will be implemented, including informational briefings, policy briefs, and direct communication, ensuring that local decision-makers are continuously updated and aligned with the project’s objectives. These efforts are expected to foster a high level of local support, amplify project visibility, and reinforce commitment to advancing digital health solutions within the region​.