Reflections from the Irish EU Presidency

We are pleased to launch the Irish Presidency Connector, a deep dive into the Irish community within the Global Health Connector network, developed during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The Connector offers a clear window into Ireland’s role within our network and provides an opportunity to explore the people, ecosystems, and partnerships shaping health innovation across the country.

The document is out now – check it out here!

Inside the document, readers will find an overview of the achievements and ambitions of our Irish ecosystem, led by the Connected Health & Wellbeing Cluster – Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT). Bringing together over 85 members across healthcare, industry, academia, and the public sector, this ecosystem has built a mature and trusted presence in areas such as AI in healthcare, digital health, cybersecurity, healthy ageing, and community-based care. Its leadership in flagship initiatives, including the AI in Healthcare Programme, the Cybersecurity for Health Special Interest Group, and Ireland’s only EU Active & Healthy Living Reference Site, positions the Cluster as a reference point for mission-driven, connected health innovation.

Ireland’s presence within the Global Health Connector network is further reinforced by a diverse group of national and international partners and members, including universities, hospitals, healthtech companies, clusters, and research institutes. Organisations spanning digital health, medtech, interoperability, cancer research, healthy ageing, and integrated care, from OnaWave Medical and Yellow Schedule to InterSystems, Gnomon Informatics, OpenSky, All-Island Cancer Research Institute (AICRI), Trinity Centre for Practice and Healthcare Innovation, Dublin City University (DCU), University College Cork (UCC), and the Innovation Value Institute (IVI) at Maynooth University, reflect the depth and diversity of Ireland’s connected health landscape.

Finally, we also highlight a further layer of collaboration through our involvement in European innovation projects. As the Global Health Connector, these project consortia are a key part of our network, bringing together universities, healthcare systems, industry, and public authorities to co-develop and implement innovation across Europe. In this document, we present Irish partners from three EU projects in which we are actively engaged: Gravitate-Health, xShare and KEEPCARING. 

Together, these ecosystems, members, and partners reflect the strength of Ireland’s health innovation model: combining academic excellence, industry dynamism, public-sector leadership, and a strong tradition of collaborative, person-centred care. Ireland’s contributions span digital health, AI, interoperability, cancer research, healthy ageing, and patient-centred innovation, reinforcing its role as a reliable partner in shaping resilient and inclusive health systems.

As the Irish EU Presidency begins, the Irish Presidency Connector captures a moment of collective ambition and shared purpose. It reflects a community that is well positioned to continue building international partnerships, supporting EU priorities, and contributing practical solutions to global health challenges.