XiA Community of Practice

The XiA Community of Practice (CoP) defines how collaboration, learning and knowledge exchange are organised within the project to strengthen interoperability skills in digital health. It provides a structured yet flexible environment where stakeholders from across Europe can contribute to and benefit from a shared effort to advance the implementation of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).

By connecting perspectives from healthcare, research, education, technology and policy, the CoP supports the development of practical skills, encourages the adoption of advanced interoperability standards and contributes to a more coherent and effective digital health ecosystem across Europe.

The CoP is designed as an open and evolving network rather than a fixed structure. Participation is based on a broad pool of organisations and professionals who engage in targeted activities aligned with specific objectives. This ensures that contributions remain relevant, practice-oriented and responsive to emerging needs in digital health interoperability.

The development of the Community follows a gradual and structured approach, starting from initial engagement clusters and progressively expanding across Europe. This phased model allows for early validation of learning materials and methods while maintaining a consistent vision and quality as the community grows.

From a structural perspective, the CoP is organised according to a petal model.

At its core, the Community is supported by the project’s Associated Partners, who provide stability and ensure continuity and strategic alignment over time. Around this foundation, thematic areas are activated as needed, reflecting different organisational domains or specific priorities requiring targeted support. Within this structure, policy-level organisations play an enabling and advisory role. Trainers and learners are not considered as separate groups, but are integrated within these domains, in line with their institutional roles and practical involvement.

Shaping interoperability through collaboration

🎯 Strengthening interoperability skills capacity

The CoP supports the development of advanced skills in digital health interoperability across Europe. It focuses on equipping professionals with the knowledge required to implement standards and frameworks in real-world contexts, contributing to a more skilled and prepared healthcare workforce.

🤝 Building a cross-sectoral ecosystem

By bringing together diverse stakeholders, the Community fosters collaboration, knowledge exchange and mutual learning. This cross-sectoral approach enables participants to address interoperability challenges from multiple perspectives and to co-create solutions that reflect real operational needs.

🧩 Co-creation and validation of learning resources

A central function of the Community is to support the design, testing and refinement of training materials. Through collaborative activities, participants contribute to shaping educational content that is relevant, practical and aligned with current interoperability requirements.

♻️ Supporting adoption and long-term impact

The CoP contributes to the uptake of XiA educational outputs, including micro-content, courses and micro-credentials. It promotes sustainable use of these resources across healthcare systems and supports their integration into professional development pathways.

🔄 Knowledge exchange and practical collaboration

The Community facilitates continuous dialogue between healthcare professionals, IT experts and other stakeholders. Through structured interactions and collaborative formats, participants can share experiences, identify skills gaps and contribute to ongoing digital health transformation.

⚙️ Contribution to policy and system-level alignment

The Community provides a platform to inform policy discussions and support alignment with European and national strategies. By connecting practice with policy, it helps ensure that interoperability skills development remains relevant, scalable and aligned with regulatory frameworks.

🌱 A sustainable and evolving ecosystem

The XiA CoP is conceived as a long-term initiative that extends beyond the project lifecycle. By building a strong network of professionals and organisations, it aims to sustain interoperability capacity building and support continuous improvement across the European digital health ecosystem.

Joining and contributing to the XiA CoP

👥 Who can participate

The XiA CoP is open to a wide range of stakeholders involved in digital health and interoperability. This includes healthcare providers, public authorities and policy makers, national standards bodies, research and academic institutions, health data intermediaries, software vendors and IT solution providers, SMEs and developers, as well as civil society organisations and patient groups. This diversity ensures that multiple perspectives are represented and integrated into the development of skills and solutions.

🛠️ What is expected from participants

Participants are encouraged to actively contribute to the Community by sharing their experience, challenges and expertise. This may include providing feedback on training materials, contributing to discussions on interoperability and data governance, supporting the development of educational content and helping to align skills initiatives with organisational and policy needs. Engagement is intended to be practical and collaborative, supporting both individual learning and collective progress.

📝 How to become a member

Becoming part of the XiA CoP is straightforward. By registering your interest clicking here, you will stay informed about upcoming activities and gain access to opportunities for engagement across the XiA ecosystem.

If you want to know more: XiA Community of Practice – XiA

Author: Natalia Allegretti