20/10/2025 — The THCS General Assembly was held on 15–16 October 2025 in Bilbao, hosted by the Basque Department of Health and BIOSISTEMAK. The meeting brought together THCS partners to review progress toward the Partnership’s objectives, take stock of ongoing activities across Work Packages (WPs), and reflect on strategic issues beyond day-to-day management. It also provided an important opportunity to exchange experiences and strengthen collaboration.
The meeting opened with remarks from the THCS Coordinating Team, followed by a welcome address from Dr. Iñaki Gutiérrez-Ibarluzea (Basque Ministry of Health). He highlighted the Basque Country’s continued commitment to aligning investment, research, innovation, and workforce planning with the broader agenda of transforming health and care systems.
Partners were then updated on progress across all Work Packages. WP1–2 leaders presented THCS’ financial status and provided an update on the draft 2026 Annual Work Plan. WP3 shared communication and dissemination activities, briefing the Assembly on recent and upcoming events. WP4 leaders reported on their work on mapping R&I needs and, in collaboration with WP10, on integrating its transferability framework into the Knowledge Hub. WP5 presented early outcomes from its cross-country analysis and provided an overview of its planned 2026 MasterClass, aiming to strengthen links between research and policymaking. WP6 and WP7 provided updates on the upcoming 2026 Joint Transnational Call, presenting its thematic priorities and outlining final evaluation arrangements and budget-related adjustments. WP8 highlighted the work done so far in 2025, including the review of project reports and the planning of upcoming activities. WP9 presented its forthcoming initiatives, including the soon-to-be released podcasts. Last but not least, WP10 reported on Knowledge Hub developments and upcoming engagement opportunities.
The General Assembly also included a dedicated session on synergies, with updates on collaboration with JA CIRCE, ASSESS-DHT, INVEST4Health, ERA4Health, JANE2, and ICHOM. Partners discussed opportunities for joint workshops, methodological exchanges, and coordinated actions under the 2026 Work Plan.
On the second day, the Basque Country showcased its integrated health system model, focusing on governance, digital transformation, innovation pathways, and the role of health research institutes in connecting evidence with policy. This was followed by an interactive discussion on evidence-informed policymaking, led by BIOSISTEMAK, exploring practical mechanisms to better link research outputs with policy priorities.
Further updates were then provided on the revision of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), including the proposed structure, methodological framework, and the timeline toward final endorsement in 2026.
The General Assembly concluded with discussions on the phasing-out strategy and next steps for the Partnership, including continued coordination across WPs, upcoming workshops, and the definition of long-term priorities to sustain system transformation.