The Regional Smart Specialization Platform (PREI) in Health and Life Sciences, named Bridges4Health, was officially launched on the 3rd of March, 2026, at Espaço Vita in Braga, bringing together more than 100 participants from 43 institutions representative of the scientific, clinical, business, and institutional ecosystem of the Norte region.
The event marked the formal start of a strategic initiative designed to support the Norte Portugal Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR-N) in strengthening innovation, accelerating technology transfer, and consolidating the region’s position as a national and European benchmark in the fields of Health and Life Sciences.
Co-funded by the European Union through the NORTE 2030 Regional Programme and Portugal 2030, the platform is coordinated by the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health of the University of Porto (i3S) and the Braga Academic Clinical Center (2CA-Braga), in collaboration with the Applied Biomolecular Sciences Unit (UCIBIO) of the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Porto (FFUP) and the Centre for Biotechnology and Fine Chemistry (CBQF) of the Universidade Católica Portuguesa.
At the opening session, the president of 2CA-Braga reinforced the consortium’s collaborative vision: “The project’s name says it all: Bridges4Health [bridges for health]. This is exactly what we are building here with the relevant stakeholders.” Jorge Pedrosa also highlighted the importance of strong connections between academic centers, local health units, and industry, emphasizing the need for knowledge sharing along the entire value chain—from applied science to entrepreneurship.
In turn, i3S Director Cláudio Sunkel emphasized the strategic framework of the platform: “We are responding to a challenge from CCDR-N to anchor investments at the regional level. The four areas of this PREI [Precision Medicine, Clinical Research, Microbiome and Health, and Biomedical Devices and Technologies] intersect with one another and include 27 strategic actions to be developed over the next 36 months,” he explained. He also noted that Bridges4Health partners will submit action proposals to CCDR-N by the summer and that international conferences are planned to strengthen the initiative’s global dimension.
“We call for a regional mobilization around this project.”
Representing CCDR-N, Carolina Guimarães highlighted the project’s economic and social impact. “This platform will mobilize the existing scientific and technological potential and strengthen the region’s positioning through the definition of investment priorities and high-impact projects,” she explained. She also emphasized CCDR-N’s commitment to a more strategic, coordinated, and results-oriented innovation policy, calling for regional mobilization.
The session featured strategic presentations, roundtables, and co-creation workshops dedicated to the four priority domains: Precision Medicine, Clinical Research, Microbiome and Health, and Biomedical Devices and Technologies. At the end of the event, contributions from all participants were collected and presented, including the priorities identified in each area and several concrete proposals for health innovation.
The Kick-Off Meeting of the (PREI) in Health and Life Sciences marked the formal launch of the Bridges4Health project. During this event, the platform and its mission were officially presented, with particular emphasis on alignment among the promoting institutions and the involvement of the various actors within the regional health ecosystem. The goal was to identify investment priorities, define lines of action, and leverage innovative projects, thereby strengthening the positioning of the Norte Region at both national and international levels.
Meeting Agenda
An afternoon to align vision, define priorities, and build the future of Health and Life Sciences in the Norte Region.
14:00 — Participant Registration
Welcome moment and initial networking.
14:30 — Bridges4Health | Vision, Objectives, and Impact
The strategy aimed at establishing the Northern Region as a benchmark in Health and Life Sciences.
14:45 — Priorities and Opportunities for the Norte Region
Where are the real levers for growth and differentiation?
15:30 — Where to Invest? Which Dynamics to Foster?
A participatory session to identify strategic focus areas, partnerships, and concrete opportunities.
17:00 — Coffee Break & Networking
Connect, share ideas, and build new bridges.
17:30 — Synthesis of the Co-creation Sessions
From ideas to action: next steps identified to turn vision into impact.
17:45 — Closing Session
This is the moment to contribute, influence priorities, and be part of building a stronger, more collaborative, and more innovative ecosystem.
Date: 3 March, 2026
Location: Braga
