Digital healthcare leaders from across the UK, Ireland and further afield gathered last Thursday for the ECHAlliance 5 Nations Ecosystem Gathering: Connecting the Dots – Globally, at Ulster University’s Belfast campus, an international conference focussed on solving some of the most urgent challenges facing health and care systems.
The high-profile event united leading minds from the five nations of the UK and Ireland, alongside contributors from India, Africa, Australia, Singapore, the USA and Europe.
The conference comes at a pivotal time for global healthcare systems – with rising demand, workforce pressures and tightening budgets all demanding urgent, innovative responses. A recurring theme of the day was the vital role of digital healthcare in delivering more sustainable, effective and accessible care.
Brian O’Connor, Chair of ECHAlliance, said:
“We are delighted to have co-hosted with Ulster University an in-person and virtual Ecosystem Gathering with the Five Nations, featuring voices from Africa, India, Australia, Singapore, USA, and Europe.
“We, the ECHAlliance, are a Belfast company which has created a Global Health Network, and today we demonstrated what that looks like in practice.”
Professor Liam Maguire, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Research at Ulster University, welcomed attendees to the event, saying:
“Digital healthcare is no longer a future aspiration – it is an immediate necessity. Innovation in this space is crucial if we are to reduce the strain on already overburdened health systems. Ulster University is proud to lead in this field, bringing together academic research, technological development and global partnerships to deliver real-world healthcare solutions.”
The Centre for Digital Healthcare Technology (CDHT) was prominently featured throughout the day, particularly in a session on City Deal innovation, chaired by Dr Paul Beaney, Head of Project Delivery at CDHT. The session highlighted how Belfast Region City Deal investment is supporting public-private collaboration and driving patient-centred innovation, with Ulster University working alongside regional partners to help deliver both economic development and healthcare transformation.
A highlight of the afternoon was a panel discussion on the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, chaired by Dr Michael Short CBE, Chair of the UK Telecomms Innovation Advisory Board. The session brought together expert voices from across the UK, Ireland and Africa, to explore how AI is reshaping medical technology, supporting innovation, and relieving pressure on healthcare budgets and resources.
Professor Jim McLaughlin, Director of CDHT, commented:
“We know that digital tools – from AI to remote diagnostics – can play a vital role in reducing hospital admissions, empowering patients, and improving health outcomes. This event is about connecting people and ideas across borders so that innovation can be accelerated and scaled in ways that benefit everyone.”
Virtual contributions from five continents added global insight, positioning the event – and Northern Ireland – at the centre of a truly international dialogue on health innovation.
The event concluded with an Outcomes and Action panel, reflecting a shared consensus: digital innovation is essential to improving health outcomes, reducing pressure on systems, and driving long-term economic value.
Keynote speakers included Brian O’Connor, Chair of ECHAlliance, Mike Farrar, Chair of the Northern Ireland Department of Health’s Transformation Board, and Professor Sheena Asthana of the University of Plymouth.
Other contributors included leaders from Digital Health & Care Wales, Public Health Scotland, the Republic of Ireland’s Health Innovation Hub, and global medtech companies, as well as patient advocates and innovators shaping the future of social care.
