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From health data to innovation – new opportunity for Swedish actors
How can Europe's extensive health data be used to develop better diagnostics, treatments and other medical innovations? This is the question at the heart of the international Recoding Medicine challenge, which is run by the German innovation agency SPRIND. Swedish companies, researchers and other innovation actors are now given the opportunity to participate in the initiative.
From health data to solutions that make a difference
Europe has large amounts of health data in the form of, for example, medical image archives, clinical registries and research databases. But too little of the value is translated into innovation. Recoding Medicine will help to unlock this vast potential by stimulating the development of high-quality datasets and concrete applications in the health field.
Participants will both make health data more accessible using AI and show how it can be used to solve real challenges in healthcare and health. This can involve everything from improved diagnostics and biomarkers to clinical decision support and new methods for drug development.
Read more about Recoding Medicine on SPRINDS website
Strengthens the competitiveness of Europe and Sweden
The initiative is particularly relevant for Sweden. Sweden has strong research environments, a competitive life science sector and good conditions in AI and health data.
– Sweden has long built up unique health data assets, but we have had difficulty translating them into innovation, business and competitiveness. Now SPRIND offers an opportunity to get the boost that many have been asking for for a long time. By better using our data resources, we can create greater value for patients, strengthen Swedish business and contribute to Europe's competitiveness and digital sovereignty, says Laurent Saunier, head of division for Health at Vinnova.
Building on the collaboration between Vinnova and SPRIND
Vinnova and SPRIND have previously established collaboration on radical innovation and how public actors can create better conditions for groundbreaking innovations. Recoding Medicine is another example of how international collaborations can help mobilize expertise and resources across national borders to meet major societal challenges.
Read more about the collaboration between Vinnova and SPRIND
Read more about how Vinnova works with radical innovation
Opportunity to develop solutions with global potential
Recoding Medicine is a multi-stage competition where the most promising teams advance through different development phases. Participants not only get the opportunity to funding but also access an international network of experts in medicine, AI and data management.
The goal is to translate research and technical breakthroughs into solutions with real clinical and commercial potential. At the same time, the projects contribute to creating knowledge, methods and resources that can benefit more actors within the European innovation system.
The challenge is open to interdisciplinary teams from healthcare, business, and technology sectors, among others. By combining data, AI, and medical expertise, participants will help unlock the value of Europe's health data and accelerate the development of the future of healthcare.
Find partners
For those who want to find partners for a proposal, an international matchmaking meeting will be arranged in Stockholm on September 17 at 15-18. The event brings together actors with access to health data, AI and research teams, clinical experts, and specialists in law and data management. The aim is to create new collaborations and help participants identify relevant partners for the Recoding Medicine challenge. The meeting will be conducted in English and is open to both Swedish and international participants.
Last updated 2 September 2026