Cities@Heart is a major European research and innovation project funded by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) under Horizon Europe. Running from January 2026 until December 2030, the project aims to tackle one of Europe’s greatest health challenges—cardiovascular disease—by helping cities become healthier places to live.
Rather than focusing solely on healthcare, Cities@Heart brings together hospitals, primary care, municipalities, public health authorities, researchers, patient organizations, technology providers, and citizens to develop integrated, city-wide strategies that improve prevention, early detection, and long-term management of cardiovascular disease. Seven pilot cities across Europe will co-create and test innovative approaches that address local needs while generating solutions that can be adopted throughout Europe.
Digital transformation is at the heart of the project. Cities@Heart is developing a secure, interoperable digital ecosystem that enables the responsible use of health and community data to support prevention, clinical decision-making, population health management, and research. By connecting data across healthcare and community settings, the project aims to accelerate innovation while supporting the vision of the European Health Data Space (EHDS).
The role of HL7 Europe
HL7 Europe plays a key role in making this possible. As the leader of interoperability activities within the project, HL7 Europe develops the standards, implementation guidance, and technical frameworks that enable seamless health data exchange across participating cities. Through HL7 FHIR Implementation Guides, the Cities@Heart Accelerator, and alignment with international initiatives such as the WHO SMART Guidelines, HL7 Europe helps ensure that digital solutions are interoperable, reusable, and scalable beyond the project itself.
By combining clinical expertise, public health, digital innovation, and internationally recognized interoperability standards, Cities@Heart is laying the foundation for healthier, more connected European cities—and demonstrating how trusted health data can drive better outcomes for citizens today and in the future.
