Madrid, 24th of June, 2025

TechConnect, an ambitious project funded by the European Commission, celebrates the organisation of a Panel of Experts on Digital Skills in the Healthcare Sector at the Centre for Biomedical Technologies of Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) in Spain. The goal of this event is to analyse how emerging technologies are transforming professional skills in the healthcare sector, addressing barriers that hinder the effective adoption of digital tools, and developing solutions to improve the training of healthcare professionals.

TechConnect: the future of digital skills in the healthcare sector

TechConnect is a pioneering initiative funded by the European Commission aimed at deepening the understanding of how emerging digital technologies impact the development of professional skills in the healthcare sector. Through case studies in hospitals in Ireland, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Spain, the project examines key advancements such as process automation through robotics, computer vision, integrated diagnostic systems, and the use of artificial intelligence, among others.

Multidisciplinary collaboration: the first step toward an integrated digital healthcare system

Organised by Juan José Moreno Navarro, Ernestina Menasalvas and Ana M. Moreno, Professors at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM. The event brought together professionals from various levels and areas of the healthcare system, including doctors, nurses, managers, and technicians from renowned institutions. The aim was to discuss the main challenges and opportunities involved in integrating technology into the healthcare system.

The participation of the Ministry of Health was crucial in contextualising the panel’s objectives within current public policies on digital health and professional development. The panel featured contributions from Álvaro Alonso Zorita, Advisor to the Director General of Digital Health and Information Systems for the NHS, Ministry of Health and Gustavo Pérez-Morales López, Advisor to the Director General of Professional Organisation, Ministry of Health, who presented the Ministry’s key areas of action. Their input helped align the panel discussions with the strategic priorities of the healthcare system, emphasising the importance of institutional collaboration to drive digital transformation in healthcare.

During the session, key topics were addressed, such as identifying barriers to digital training, including issues like lack of time, limited or inflexible educational offerings, associated costs, and the absence of integration into professional career paths. Success stories were also shared, highlighting the use of digital technologies to improve healthcare quality and the management of medical teams.

Finally, there was a reflection on leadership and responsibilities at different levels within the healthcare system, alongside the need to create networks for support, training, and collaboration among professionals.

Among the esteemed attendees were:

• Alonso Zorita, Álvaro – Advisor to the Director General of Digital Health and Information Systems for the NHS, Ministry of Health.
• Blanco, Ángel – Director of Transformation and Systems at the Quirónsalud Group.
• Bonis Sanz, Julio – Director of AI at Sermes CRO Senior Data Scientist, John Snow Labs, USA.
• Cobo González, Diego – Deputy Director of Nursing, Community of Madrid Blood Transfusion Centre.
• Cruz Bermúdez, Juan Luis – Director of Digital Innovation, Hospital 12 de Octubre.
• Freire Campo, José Manuel – Emeritus Professor, National School of Health.
• García Perea, Eva – Director of the Nursing Department at UAM.
• García Pérez, Miguel Ángel – Head of Training and Professional Development at AMYTS (Association of Doctors and Senior Graduates of Madrid).
• González Moreno, Marta – Floor Nurse, Getafe Hospital.
• Herrera Úbeda, Miguel Ángel – Deputy Director of Management and General Services, Puerta de Hierro University Hospital.
• Moreno Muñoz, Guillermo – Coordinator of the Nursing Degree, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Podiatry, Complutense University of Madrid.
• Pérez-Morales López, Gustavo – Advisor to the Director General of Professional Organisation, Ministry of Health.
• Ruiz Iglesias, Lola – Physician, Member of the Board of Directors of the SEIS (Spanish Society of Health Informatics), Independent Consultant.
• Salguero Bodes, Rafael – Deputy Medical Director and Head of Cardiology Service, Hospital 12 de Octubre.
• Velasco Escribano, Diego – Director of Innovation at the Ramón y Cajal Hospital Research Institute.

Building the future of digital health in Europe

The Panel of Experts on Digital Skills marks a milestone in the advancement toward a more digitalised healthcare system, with a greater capacity to adapt to the needs of healthcare professionals in Europe.

This event represents a key step in the implementation of TechConnect and provides a valuable opportunity to address urgent needs in training and the integration of digital skills in healthcare professionals. Through collaboration among all involved stakeholders, the project will contribute to the development of policies and strategies that optimise the adoption of emerging technologies in healthcare environments.