Clust-ER Health at R2B: Connections that generate innovation

Two days of discussion, strategic vision and networks in action. The participation of Clust-ER Health in Research to Business – R2B 2025 has once again highlighted the ability of the regional ecosystem to lead innovation in the health and wellness sector, with a trajectory increasingly oriented towards personalised medicine, sustainability and the integration of advanced technologies in clinical pathways and care models.

The 2025 edition of R2B represented a precious opportunity for Clust-ER Health to reaffirm its mission: to build a connected, competitive and cooperative regional health ecosystem, capable of dialoguing with Europe, attracting resources and generating value for citizens, businesses, research and territories.

From the new Value Chain (VC) manifestos to PRECISEU and BioHubs4STEP, through artificial intelligence and smart devices, a clear trajectory emerges: the health of the future is built today, together.

Personalised medicine as a systemic challenge with EPPerMed and PRECISEU

During the workshop “Personalised medicine, between training, digitalization and sustainability”, the PRECISEU project represented one of the most concrete examples of how the Emilia-Romagna Region is building, step by step, a real European hub for personalised medicine. Not just a project, but a strategic infrastructure within the Regional Innovation Valley, capable of enhancing data, skills and technologies.

The connection with European policies was also made explicit by Gianni D’Errico’s speech for EPPerMed, confirming the full coherence between regional projects and continental priorities.

To complete the picture, a round table that combined vision and operation with:

• Valentina Benfenati, Chair of VC Materials, on the value of sustainability in materials for health, with a OneHealth perspective and impact reduction, with the aim of contributing to the fight against climate change and the circular economy
• Laura Calzà, Chair of VC Pharma & ATMPs and Scientific Director of Fondazione IRET, on the importance of applied research and technology transfer that are carried out in the regional territory, with projects such as AI4CHEMOBRAIN
• Sofia Ferrari, project manager of DIGICARE, a concrete example of high-level training for telemedicine and artificial intelligence at the service of personalised medicine

Artificial intelligence and BioHubs for Europe: the workshop on STEP

In the Health&Biotech arena of R2B, the workshop “AI at the service of biotechnology in the STEP context” explained how Emilia-Romagna is integrating AI and biotechnology in the regional BioHubs, thanks also to projects such as BioHubs4STEP.

From the experience of Owkin, who presented concrete applications of federated AI, to the story of IFAB, Associazione Big Data and Clust-ER Agrifood, a clear vision emerged: uniting data, infrastructures, skills and regional networks is the key to building a Europe of digital and sustainable health. In fact, in the round table, moderated by Clust-ER Health, a discussion opened on how to systematize resources, technologies and skills with:

• Augusta Caligiani, from Clust-ER Agrifood, who illustrated the strategic role of the Parma BioHub, where AI can enhance innovations in the food, nutrition and sustainability sectors.
• Carlo Pignatari, from Associazione Big Data, who highlighted the regional initiatives to facilitate access to supercomputing by businesses and public administrations.
• Emilio Merlo Pich, from IFAB – International Foundation Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Human Development, who presented the active projects and the potential for connection with stakeholders in the health and biotech supply chain.

A General Assembly to strengthen the Clust-ER Health community

The General Assembly, held within the framework of R2B, was a moment of institutional and community discussion. After the opening greetings by Lorenzo Broccoli, General Director of Personal Care, Health and Welfare of the Emilia-Romagna Region, the strategic centrality of Clust-ER Health in guiding regional innovation in the health sector was confirmed. Also speaking at the end of the meeting was Morena Diazzi, General Director of the Knowledge, Research, Work and Business Area of ​​the Emilia-Romagna Region, whose mandate will end during this month.

The Assembly also saw the presentation of the new members who recently joined the Association, who will further enrich the Clust-ER network with complementary experiences and visions. In particular, the Fondazione ISAL, active in research and training for the treatment of pain, and Policonsulting, a company that supports the healthcare sector in the development of digital and organisational solutions, were welcomed.

A moment that further underlined the vitality and openness of Clust-ER Health, ready to welcome new protagonists in the shared construction of the future of health in Emilia-Romagna.

>> Discover all the new members of Clust-ER Health (in Italian)

The new Value Chain manifestos: an integrated vision for the future of health

During the Clust-ER Health members’ meeting, the new Value Chain manifestos were presented, which define the strategic horizons for the three-year period 2025–2027. These are identity documents, which guide the action of the six Value Chains of the Cluster – Pharma & ATMPs, MedTech, SalusTech, Big Data & AI and MatERials – all united by the ambition of building a cohesive, innovative and competitive health system, starting from the territory.

• The Value Chain Pharma & ATMPs evolves as a critical link between preclinical and clinical-health research, strengthening the pipeline for the development of innovative drugs, biologicals and advanced therapies (gene, cellular, CAR-T). At the heart of the strategy: the integration of omic sciences, predictive models, innovative delivery and a constant dialogue with regulatory bodies.
• The Value Chain MedTech – Medical Devices focuses on regulatory challenges and the adoption of enabling technologies such as robotics, 3D printing, artificial intelligence and digital therapies, with the aim of promoting a more sustainable and advanced Industry 5.0, enhancing the Mirandola district and local supply chains.
• The Value Chain SalusTech promotes person-centered solutions to improve quality of life, prevention, home care and inclusiveness. The VC works on personalised paths, mental health, life projects for people with disabilities and technologies for continuity of care.
• The Value Chain Big Data & AI for Health is structured along three lines: creating a synergic regional infrastructure, developing standards for assessing the reliability of AI models, and supporting regulatory compliance in the use of healthcare data. Artificial intelligence becomes a lever for personalised therapies, digital twins, and predictive medicine.
• The Value Chain MatERialS – Materials for Health adopts the “One Health” approach to develop advanced, sustainable and intelligent biomaterials, enabling all other supply chains: from implantable devices to exoskeletons, from medical packaging to biosensors for digital health.

These manifestos, illustrated by the respective Chairs, are not simple guidelines, but represent a platform for action to build concrete projects, strategic partnerships and funding opportunities on a national and European scale, in full coherence with the Smart Specialisation Strategy of the Emilia-Romagna Region and with the trajectories of Horizon Europe and the STEP platform.