UIC Barcelona will coordinate THRIVE (Transforming Healthcare Research into Validated Solutions through Alliance-KIC Cooperation), a European project designed to accelerate the translation of research into innovative solutions for healthcare systems. Funded with €2 million through the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) Higher Education Initiative, the project brings together 14 partners from nine European countries, including the 10 universities that make up the EduCare 5.0 European University Alliance, as well as organisations from the healthcare and technology sectors and healthcare providers with longstanding links to UIC Barcelona.

THRIVE was one of 35 proposals selected from a total of 138 submissions in the European call. The project, which will run for 24 months, further strengthens UIC Barcelona's position as a leading institution in healthcare innovation and knowledge transfer, while reinforcing one of the University's strategic priorities: internationalisation through high-impact European partnerships.

Under UIC Barcelona's leadership, THRIVE will develop simulation infrastructures that enable healthcare technologies, digital applications and new business models to be validated before being introduced into real clinical settings. These platforms will support the assessment of clinical viability, economic sustainability, regulatory compliance and implementation readiness, helping to ensure that innovations are prepared for successful adoption.

THRIVE will also deliver entrepreneurship training programmes for students and professionals, support the creation of research-driven start-ups, and strengthen collaboration with EIT Health and 28Digital. In addition, the project includes initiatives aimed at promoting female entrepreneurship in digital health and establishing an institutional strategy that enhances innovation and knowledge transfer with tangible social impact.

Eduardo Mirpuri, vice-rector for International Relations at UIC Barcelona, highlighted the significance of the initiative: “Leading THRIVE demonstrates the EduCare 5.0 Alliance's ability to generate high-impact collaborative initiatives built on shared goals and complementary expertise. This project allows us to advance a strategic area for both Europe and UIC Barcelona, bringing together healthcare, emerging technologies and simulation while integrating entrepreneurship, innovation and knowledge transfer to ensure that research outcomes deliver real benefits to society.”

A European alliance transforming education and healthcare innovation

The coordination of THRIVE also highlights the potential of EduCare 5.0, the European University Alliance of which UIC Barcelona has been a member since its creation in 2024. Comprising 10 higher education institutions from nine European countries, the alliance aims to strengthen cooperation between universities in order to transform education in the health sciences and create a European ecosystem for education, research and innovation.

EduCare 5.0 promotes a university model built on international collaboration, the mobility of students and academic staff, the development of joint degree programmes and shared learning experiences, as well as research and innovation projects capable of addressing Europe's most pressing societal challenges. Healthcare, digital transformation, sustainability and inclusion are among the alliance's key areas of focus.

For UIC Barcelona, membership of EduCare 5.0 strengthens its international profile and expands opportunities for collaboration with universities, businesses and institutions across Europe, supporting both impactful knowledge creation and the attraction of competitive funding for strategic projects.

Building on a European innovation strategy

THRIVE also builds on the work carried out by UIC Barcelona through DigiCare Innovation, another project funded by the EIT Higher Education Initiative, which enabled the development of a mental health testbed based on virtual reality and immersive technologies.

DigiCare has also established an innovation ecosystem that offers interdisciplinary training for students, academic and administrative staff, alongside incubation and acceleration programmes and access to an international network of testbeds where entrepreneurs and innovators can develop and validate healthcare solutions.

Drawing on this experience, THRIVE will expand the scope of these validation infrastructures to create a permanent environment for the assessment and transfer of healthcare innovations. In doing so, it will further establish UIC Barcelona as a leading European centre for applied research, entrepreneurship and healthcare innovation.

By leading this project, the University reaffirms its commitment to research excellence, international collaboration and knowledge transfer, contributing to the development of innovative solutions that address both current and future challenges facing healthcare systems.