From Testing to Real-World Readiness: i2X at Plugathon and Connectathon

As Europe moves from defining interoperability standards to implementing them into practice, testing environments such as the IHE Plugathon and Connectathon play a critical role.

Diogo Martins

May 6, 2026 · 3 min lectura

For the i2X project, participation in these events is not just a technical exercise; it is a key step towards ensuring that the European Electronic Health Record Exchange Format (EEHRxF) can function effectively in real-world healthcare settings.

From theory to practical validation

Interoperability frameworks are essential, but their true value can only be demonstrated when systems are tested in conditions that reflect real use.

At the IHE Plugathon in Brussels, i2X partners worked alongside other European initiatives to test EEHRxF-based solutions in end-user scenarios. These sessions provided a hands-on environment where technical specifications are translated into working systems, enabling teams to identify gaps, refine approaches, and improve integration.

This process is particularly important for a project like i2X, which focuses on in-service implementation rather than isolated experimentation.

Building on a European testing ecosystem:

Participation in the Plugathon builds on the experience of the IHE-Europe Connectathon, one of the most established interoperability testing events in Europe.

At the Connectathon, stakeholders from across the digital health ecosystem—including industry, healthcare providers, and standardisation bodies—come together to validate systems against shared profiles and frameworks.

For i2X, this environment offers:

alignment with existing interoperability standards
opportunities to test integration across systems and countries
direct interaction with other EU-funded initiatives working towards EHDS

These exchanges are essential for ensuring that solutions developed within the project are compatible, scalable, and aligned with broader European efforts.

Collaboration across initiatives

A key added value of these events is the opportunity to strengthen collaboration with sister projects such as Xt-EHR and xShare.

Rather than operating in isolation, i2X contributes to a growing ecosystem where initiatives coordinate their efforts, share insights, and work towards common implementation objectives.

This type of collaboration is increasingly recognised as critical for the success of the European Health Data Space.

From testing to implementation:

Testing environments such as the Plugathon and Connectathon do more than validate technology—they help bridge the gap between standards and implementation.

They provide insights into:

system performance and interoperability readiness
integration challenges across different infrastructures
usability considerations in real-world scenarios

For i2X, these insights directly inform the work of demonstrator sites across Europe, ensuring that implementation is grounded in practical experience.

Looking ahead:

As the project progresses, continued participation in such testing environments will remain essential.

By connecting standards, testing, and real-world use, i2X is contributing to a broader transition: from interoperability as a concept to interoperability as a functioning component of European healthcare systems.

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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