EduCare 5.0 works with the European higher education community, with regional health systems and with learners and innovators outside its member institutions. This page shows where that cooperation is visible today.
In the European Universities community
EduCare 5.0 received the European Commission’s Seal of Excellence in June 2024 and was recognised as a European University in 2025. The alliance was represented at the 4th European Universities Initiative Forum, held at Maynooth University, Ireland, on 9 and 10 July 2026.
A growing network
- Two institutions joined in January 2026: Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Finland) and the Medical University of Łódź (Poland).
- Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem takes part in DigiCare Innovation as an associate partner.
Links with regional health systems
The alliance’s projects bring universities together with health care providers, technology companies and health clusters.
- In DigiCare Innovation, the local health unit Unidade Local de Saúde de Almada-Seixal (ULSAS), Portugal, is a full consortium partner alongside the universities.
- In Iași, the DigiCare LivingLab brings together UMF Iași, the Regional Institute of Oncology Iași and GreenSoft. Startups validate digital oncology solutions within authentic clinical pathways, working with clinicians, researchers, patients and healthcare professionals.
- In Bielefeld, the KogniHome smart-home living lab at HSBI tests digital health technologies in realistic everyday settings, with a focus on healthy ageing, independent living and community-based care.
- In Barcelona, the CalmXR testbed at UIC Barcelona validates digital mental health and immersive technologies with psychologists, researchers, clinicians and students.
- THRIVE includes Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa and Equip d’Atenció Primària Barcelona-Sardenya as full partners, and Health Cluster Portugal as an associated partner.
Open learning and support for startups
Free courses with ECTS
The DigiCare Innovation courses are free, online and self-paced, and open to learners anywhere. Students can earn 2 ECTS, awarded by EIT Health, in the Digital Health and Entrepreneurship Course. Academics and professionals can follow shorter courses in digital health and in entrepreneurship. The courses are offered in English, and learners can follow them in other languages through their browser’s automatic translation. See the courses
Mentoring
The DigiCare Mentoring Program (December 2025 to June 2026) matched students, early-career researchers and professionals with mentors from academia, industry and healthcare. It encouraged applications from underrepresented groups and offered accessible mentoring formats for participants with special needs.
Support for startups
The DigiCare Incubator Program 2025 and the DigiCare Innovation Accelerator help healthtech startups move from an idea to a solution validated in real healthcare settings. The accelerator is free for selected startups and prepares them for investment through mentoring, workshops, Coffee Clubs and local Demo Days. In September 2026 the first accelerator cohort met the partner nodes. Accelerator Program
The Digital Health Challenge Lab (30 September to 9 December 2026) invites mentors from academia, healthcare and industry to guide interdisciplinary teams working on community oncology, mental health and chronic diseases.
