The Nordic region has a long-standing tradition of utilizing health data to support policy making, as well as RDI activities. Nevertheless, work towards harnessing the tools and opportunities offered through digitalization is still in progress. In the meantime, EU-level advancements, particularly the proposed European Health Space regulation and the range of large-scale projects supporting it are rapidly changing the international health information environment. Each Nordic country and the region as a whole need to negotiate an updated and valid common value proposition for secondary use of health data.

The Nordic Council of Ministers approved in December 2023 funding for the VALO (Value from Nordic Health Data) project. In the coming two years, VALO aims to raise each country’s capacity through joint experimentation of future solutions, and define in concrete terms the model and added value of Nordic co-operation in secondary use of health data. From February to April 2024, the project consortium will be working on a feasibility study and detailed project plan, to be presented and discussed with the audience during the Vitalis session.