European healthcare systems are confronted with significant challenges as demands continue to rise. EUHA firmly believes that as university hospitals, our role is to lead and drive the transformation of healthcare, to meet the challenges that affect delivery, quality, and capacity. Innovation can tackle a wide range of these challenges. It can lead to increasing efficiency, optimising patient care, and can even help address current workforce challenges. Innovation facilitates the realisation of personalised, sustainable, and forward-looking healthcare, while also amplifying the impact of translational life science research through effective knowledge valorisation, ultimately enabling university hospitals to give the best care to patients. University hospitals, with their extensive expertise in research, healthcare, and education, are excellent environments that serve as innovation hubs. They play a crucial role in promoting collaborations, fostering an innovation mindset among healthcare professionals and contributing to the development of innovative solutions that will have a long-term impact on society and will shape the future of healthcare. <br
Knowledge sharing: This involves organising seminars and meetings on relevant topics and establishing a repository of information and documentation for future use.
Collaboration: The group discusses when, where, and how to apply for joint projects and associated grants, fostering collaboration among members.
Policy engagement: This involves interacting with relevant bodies to help influence the innovation climate.
Organizational structure: The group delves into understanding the structure and organisation of innovation activities within each EUHA member, as well as exploring various approaches to ways of working.Tools: the group continues to develop new tools and spread already existing tools like the Healthcare Transformation Academy for fostering the innovation culture.
This paper examines solutions for driving healthcare transformation, optimizing knowledge valorization, and enhancing the sustainability and future-readiness of these institutions. It also identifies critical barriers to innovation within academic healthcare settings and highlights the necessary actions that decision-makers must take to overcome these challenges effectively.