10.02.2025

The Annual event 2025 of CleverHealth Network ecosystem focused on the future

Health care innovations towards 2030

How does health care look in the future? What are the key challenges and opportunities for innovation, and what is the role of data and AI? These were among the key discussion topics at the Annual event 2025 of CleverHealth Network (CHN) ecosystem arranged at Terkko Health HUB, in Helsinki on January 16th. The event brought together about 100 experts to hear recent highlights of the ecosystem and discuss the key challenges & opportunities in digital healthcare.

Innovation ecosystem creating results with impact

Chief Medical Officer Markku Mäkijärvi conveyed greetings from the HUS (Helsinki University Hospital) management. He brought up the challenges like ageing population and scarcity of health care resources we are facing not only in Finland but globally. The need of innovations is high, and especially data-driven developments are expected to play a major role here. He thanked the pioneering work of CleverHealth Network as a well-known innovation ecosystem driving digital healthcare from research to practice. In particular, he emphasized the importance of the collaboration of different companies and healthcare professionals. He reminded that in addition to the joint R&D, it is important to be able to implement the developed solutions in practice, noting that this is already happening in CHN. He also mentioned that the active collaboration of HUS with other Nordic and European academic hospitals can provide a good platform for the international collaboration activities of CHN.

Virpi Rauta, leader of the CHN coordination team at HUS, gave a short snapshot on the ecosystem highlights and its future plans. Since its establishment in 2017 CHN has been focusing on developing solutions to clearly identified clinical needs by utilising the versatile health data of HUS. This work, done together by HUS clinicians with a wide range of companies, has produced significant results yielding concrete outcomes that both improve patient quality of life and enhance healthcare processes, achieving long-term impact. Concrete solutions supporting clinical decision-making have been developed and put into practice. Examples of such solutions entail algorithms that identify brain hemorrhages, early diagnostics of rare diseases and treatment of acute leukemia, remote monitoring of gestational diabetes and home dialysis. Now the scope of the ecosystem will be expanded to other areas as well.

Virpi says: “We now want to look at the healthcare sector a bit more broadly and identify real needs and relevant research challenges we can solve together with companies and research partners. Examples include better utilisation of medical technology devices and robotics, but also what we can do to enhance healthcare processes both in terms of comprehensive patient care paths and, on the other hand, the effectiveness of e.g. logistics in hospital environment. Sustainability in healthcare is another wider frame we will have a closer look at.”

This time, CHN projects were highlighted in two presentations, a completed one and a recently started one.

Research Doctor Ville Vartiainen from HUS shared some key results of the E3 Excellence in Pandemic Response and Enterprise Solutions, a project with 22 companies and 7 research organisations. An intervention study made at daycare centers revealed the importance of airborne transmission for common pathogens and the role of ventilation and air purification as mitigation measures. Another interesting study made in the project was related to super-spreading of pathogens, i.e. how different individuals and different ways of using voice generate aerosols. 

The scope and targets of a new joint project “AI in Fertility Science: Shaping the Future of IVF” was presented by Hanna Savolainen-Peltonen, HUS, Iveta Lohovska, Paula Serna and Guillermo Ayllon from HPE and Miikka Kiiski, CGI Finland. The project aims to develop an AI-based solution that could be used in the clinics for embryo selection, prediction of the success of fertilization and for optimal IVF treatment for each pair.

From Finland to Nordics and beyond

Senior Director Eeva Salminen from Business Finland described their Healthcare Reimagined 2035 mission set to help solve the health challenge of the increasing burden of chronic diseases tsunami and the growing healthcare workforce shortage in developed countries. It consists of two focus areas: Personalised digital health prioritising chronic diseases, aging, cancer & mental health, and Preventive & sustainable healthcare prioritising chronic diseases, aging, cancer & mental health. Related to this mission, Business Finland launched last year a new programme Health 360 Finland which is closely linked to the key themes of CleverHealth Network. It aims to accelerate the implementation of new digital technologies in health sector to generate new business for global opportunities.

Nima Jokilaakso from SITRA brought into the discussion the Nordic dimension by presenting VALO (Value from Nordic Health Data). The project was set up to help more fluent utilisation of health data, prepare for the EHDS legislation and enhancing joint data collaboration through pilot studies within Nordics.

Towards future challenges and opportunities

In the keynote speech, Päivi Sillanaukee, Special Envoy for Health and Wellbeing from Ministry of Social Affairs and Health Finland, discussed how to revolutionise the Future of the Finnish Health and Wellbeing Sector. A key tool and paradigm shift will rely on prevention and utilisation of technology, data and AI. “Finland serves as an example in healthcare innovation, where an iterative approach has enabled sustainable development and collaboration among various stakeholders. The aim is to create a robust and innovative healthcare system that benefits both citizens and society as a whole. As a forerunner, Finland may not have succeeded in everything immediately, but the willingness to learn from challenges and make corrections is at the core of its country’s progress,” she states.

Mikko Rotonen, Head of Innovation at HUS, gave an inspiring presentation on “Hot topics in future health care”, presenting a host of megatrends and top technology trends as predicted by different forecasting companies. Among many topics discussed, he highlighted AI- assisted diagnostics, telemedicine (remote care), personalised medicine, wearable technologies and autonomous humanoid robots.

The robotics theme was continued by Ville Riikkala through a case study by Nokia Bell Labs on how robots could be utilised in hospital environment e.g. supporting nurses and acting as data sources.

The session was completed with an interactive panel discussion focusing on “Health Innovation by 2030 – what challenges need to be solved”. The panelists were Mikko Rotonen, HUS, Saara Hassinen, CEO, Healthtech Finland, Päivi Sillanaukee, Ministry of Social Affairs and Health of Finland and Klaus Tamminen, Head of Medical Affairs, AstraZeneca, and moderator Markku Heino, Spinverse. The discussion topics included key challenges as identified needs for innovation actions, opportunities of new technologies, use of data & AI, as well as critical bottlenecks in collaboration and implementation of the new solutions in practice.

This public annual event brought together a wide group of experts from pharma, medtech and ICT companies, researchers and clinicians from various fields as well as public authorities. Sharing a common interest in digital healthcare solutions development and collaborative spirit was embodied by excitement, lively discussions and interaction during the event, naturally culminating in the networking session at the end.