Innovation in health: From idea to impact

How can health research lead to solutions that actually make it out into the real world? That question is at the heart of Health Innovation Day 2026, taking place on Wednesday 28 January at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) in Odense. The day gathers key players from research, funding bodies, business and the public sector – with a particular focus on the growing demand for innovation and societal impact in the world of research.

A changing funding landscape

Many researchers today find that funding bodies are demanding more and more evidence of relevance – and clear plans for how research outcomes will benefit society. This shift is clearly reflected in this year’s programme, where representatives from both the Innovation Fund Denmark and the Novo Nordisk Foundation will join a panel discussion on this very topic – alongside two heads of department from SDU.

– We’re in the middle of a transition, where research is no longer just about new knowledge, but also about how that knowledge is put to use. Health Innovation Day is a chance to enter into direct dialogue with some of the major funding bodies and gain insights into how researchers can work strategically with impact, says Uffe Holmskov, Vice Dean for Research at the Faculty of Health Sciences, SDU.

A full day of health innovation in practice

The programme is wide-ranging and opens with keynote talks from Diana Arsovic (Danish Life Science Cluster) and Rita Hendricusdottir (RegMetrics), who will each focus on current innovation trends and regulatory frameworks, respectively.

Later in the morning, participants can hear presentations from investors, municipal partners and SDU researchers sharing their experiences – covering everything from industry collaboration and spin-outs to political influence and implementation. Among the speakers are Grith L. Sørensen and Maja Thiele, who have both transformed their research into real-world health solutions.

An open invitation to collaborate and get inspired

Health Innovation Day is aimed at researchers, decision-makers, clinicians, students and industry professionals – anyone interested in how we can work together to solve the challenges facing our healthcare system through innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

The event is hosted by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Southern Denmark, and all interested parties from SDU, the Region of Southern Denmark, the private sector, organisations and other stakeholders are very welcome to attend.