From Alignment to Co-Creation: How the i2X Annual Meeting Shapes the Next Phase of EHDS Implementation.

The i2X Annual Meeting in Brussels marked a key milestone in the project’s journey, bringing together partners from across Europe not only to reflect on progress, but to actively shape the next phase of implementation.

Diogo Martins

May 6, 2026 · 2 min lectura

Implementation does not happen in isolation — it is orchestrated.

As i2X transitions from its initial set-up phase into a more operational stage, the Annual Meeting served as a critical moment to align, orchestrate, and co-create the path forward.

More than a project checkpoint

While Annual Meetings are often seen as opportunities to review achievements, the i2X meeting went beyond reporting.

It provided a structured environment for partners to:

define priorities for the upcoming period
refine the overall strategy and action plan
ensure alignment across implementation, stakeholder engagement, and scaling activities

This was particularly important for a project equal to i2X’s scale and complexity, involving multiple countries, healthcare systems, and technical environments.

Orchestrating collaboration across Work Packages

One of the central objectives of the meeting was to strengthen coordination across Work Packages, ensuring that activities are not developed in isolation but contribute to a coherent implementation pathway.

Through targeted sessions and interactive discussions, partners worked to:

connect technical development with real-world demonstrators
align stakeholder engagement with implementation needs
ensure that evidence generation and impact assessment are embedded in ongoing activities

This orchestration is essential for maintaining consistency across the project and avoiding fragmentation; a key risk in large, multi-partner initiatives.

A space for co-creation

A defining feature of the meeting was its emphasis on co-creation.

Rather than following a purely top-down approach, the agenda was designed to encourage active participation and shared ownership of the next steps.

Breakout sessions and working discussions enabled partners to:

exchange perspectives from different national and organisational contexts
identify common challenges and opportunities
jointly define solutions and priorities

This collaborative approach is particularly relevant in the context of the European Health Data Space (EHDS), where implementation depends on the ability to align diverse stakeholders and systems.

From planning to implementation readiness

As i2X moves forward, the focus shifts increasingly towards implementation.

The Annual Meeting played a key role in preparing this transition by:

reinforcing a shared understanding of objectives and timelines
clarifying roles and dependencies across partners
supporting the activation of demonstrator sites and implementation activities

By aligning both strategic direction and operational planning, the meeting ensured that the project is well-positioned to deliver its next phase.

The value of coming together

Beyond the formal sessions, the importance of in-person interaction was evident throughout the meeting.

Face-to-face discussions enable a level of trust, clarity, and collaboration that is difficult to achieve remotely. They accelerate decision-making, strengthen relationships, and create the conditions for more effective coordination.

For a project like i2X—operating across disciplines, organisations, and countries—this human dimension is a critical enabler of success.

Looking ahead

The i2X Annual Meeting reaffirmed that implementation is not a linear process, but a collective effort that requires continuous alignment and collaboration.

As the project progresses, the outcomes of this meeting will guide the next steps, ensuring that i2X continues to contribute effectively to the implementation of the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF) and the broader European Health Data Space.

Diogo Martins

Project Manager

Graduated in Health Equipment and Technology, with a background in Electronics, ICT, and Medical Devices. Holds an MSc in Healthcare Information Systems Management from the Polytechnic Institute of Leiria and the Faculty of Medicine of Porto. Diogo has worked as a Medical Devices Consultant, Key Account Manager, and ICT Project Manager at SPMS, with a focus on healthcare data sharing, radiology, and telemedicine. He has coordinated and participated in multiple EU digital health projects (e.g., X-eHealth, eHAction, HEALTHeID) related to patient empowerment, health data use, interoperability, and sustainability.

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