Extremadura is a partner region of the UNITE project, funded by the Horizon Europe Programme and included in the New European Innovation Agenda 2022, coordinated by EIT Digital and managed by my department. The main focus is on the interoperability of health data systems to promote entrepreneurship, support the growth of local startups, and facilitate the creation of new interregional value chains in the digital health sector.
Are you a digital health innovator in one of the UNITE regions? The UNITE initiative activates the Agile Piloting programme that supports short-term, real-world experiments ranging from €3,000 to €12,500. The programme enables startups, scaleups, and other research and innovation organisations in the UNITE regions to validate their digital health solutions aligned with the UNITE Innovation Challenges in regional experimental facilities.
UNITE Framework
UNITE is a major €20 million pan-European programme under the European Commission’s Regional Innovation Valleys initiative, which builds a borderless European digital health innovation ecosystem and drives healthcare transformation through digital deep-tech solutions, addressing challenges posed by demographic transitions and ageing populations.
Key Details & Timeline
Important Dates:
Please note that some dates differ by region.
- Application opens: 3 December 2025
- Information session: 11 December 2025
- Application closes: 30 January 2026, 17.00 CET (extended from 24 December 2025)
- Agile piloting phase: 9 February 2026 – 30 April 2026 (some pilots may extend beyond this period, please consult regional requirements and contacts)
Financial Support:
The UNITE initiative is awarding funding for short-term pilots ranging from €3,000 to €12,500.
Innovation Challenges
UNITE Agile Piloting covers all four key challenges tackled by the UNITE project:
- Deep-tech innovations for equitable access to health for all.
- Digital innovations for personalised, human-centred remote care.
- Advancing the European Health Data Spaces (EHDS).
- Digital innovations to address the healthcare workforce crisis.
Eligibility & Regional Requirements
Applicants must be legally established in, and meet the eligibility requirements of, one of the following UNITE participating regions:
- Region Zealand, Denmark;
- Northern Netherlands, Netherlands;
- Central Macedonia, Greece;
- Lombardy Region, Italy;
- Extremadura Region, Spain;
- Scotland, United Kingdom;
- Romania (national scope).
Ecosystem Value and Support
The UNITE’s borderless European digital health innovation ecosystem offers:
- Short-term financial support
- Chance to test your innovative solution in your regional experimentation facilities or another UNITE region
- Opportunity to engage in other interregional projects supported by UNITE
Prepare Now
Please review the Application Guidelines carefully to ensure compliance with the UNITE framework and regional requirements, and submit your application in accordance with the instructions provided in the «How to Participate» section, either via the UNITE Cloud or a regional platform, depending on your geographical location.
