Vilnius Health Innovation Forum — Healthy, Competitive, Secure: Reimagining Europe’s Health Ecosystem

16 November 2026

09:00–18:00

Merchants’ Club

Gedimino Ave. 35, Vilnius, Lithuania

REGISTER

Europe’s health systems stand at a crossroads.

Recent decades have exposed fundamental vulnerabilities: R&D investment has declined, the EU’s share of global clinical trials has halved, and today only half of the medicines available in the US market reach European patients. Population ageing and the growing burden of chronic disease are placing further strain on systems already struggling with sustainability. Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions have made one thing clear: health is no longer just a social issue – it is also a matter of strategic security.

Against this backdrop, the Vilnius Health Innovation Forum asks a fundamental question: how can Europe ensure that its health systems remain resilient in an era of unprecedented challenges?

Resilience requires progress across three interconnected areas:

  • a competitive ecosystem that can innovate;
  • a value chain that delivers innovations to patients;
  • policies that address demographic shifts and the chronic disease burden threatening Europe’s economic and social fabric.

To unlock the full potential of health innovation, we must think boldly and act together. The Forum will bring together policymakers, industry, patient representatives and other stakeholders to discuss how Europe can retain its ability to create and deliver cutting-edge treatments. It will also explore how health can become a truly cross-cutting priority, supported by whole-of-government thinking, and how investment in health resilience can generate economic, social, and security returns far beyond the health sector alone.

Lithuania’s 2027 Presidency of the Council of the European Union provides a timely platform to advance this agenda. Lithuania has the opportunity to act as a first mover, positioning itself as a European innovation sandbox and a source of concrete, scalable answers to shared European challenges.

The Forum aims to serve as a springboard for this ambition – bringing stakeholders together, shaping the health agenda Lithuania will champion during its Presidency, and demonstrating what an agile and innovative EU Member State can achieve.

REGISTRATION

Due to limited venue capacity, all registration requests will be reviewed and approved individually.
You will receive a separate email confirming your registration status.

Please note: submitting this form does not automatically confirm your participation. All registrations are subject to review.

By submitting this application, you consent to being photographed and filmed during the event.

AGENDA

The agenda is preliminary and subject to change.
Please note that the event will be held in English.

09:00–09:30

REGISTRATION

09:30–10:10

OPENING

Remarks by:

  • Linas Kukuraitis, Minister, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania
  • Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare

10:10–11:00

BUILDING AN ECOSYSTEM FOR LIFE SCIENCES COMPETITIVENESS

Discussion session with:

  • Dana Burduja, Head, Life Sciences and Health Division, European Investment Bank
  • Nathalie Moll, Director General, European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations
  • Daniel Naumovas, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania
  • Dr Monika Paulė, Director, Innovation Agency Lithuania

Moderated by

Edmundas Jakilaitis, Journalist

11:00–11:45

FROM ECOSYSTEM TO PATIENT VALUE –
INNOVATION FINANCING AND ACCESS

Opening presentation by

  • Neil Grubert, Independent Global Market Access Consultant, Trainer and Writer

Discussion session with:

  • Neringa Čiakienė, Director, Lithuanian Cancer Patient Coalition
  • Neil Grubert, Independent Global Market Access Consultant, Trainer and Writer
  • Dr Malina Müller, Head, Health Economics, WifOR Institute
  • Zoltán Jakab, Regional Vice President, Central Eastern Europe, AbbVie
  • Representative, National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania

Moderated by

Edmundas Jakilaitis, Journalist

11:45–12:30

BUILDING A COMPETITIVE LIFE SCIENCES ECOSYSTEM: GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVES

High-level fireside chat with:

  • Daniel Naumovas, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania
  • Representative, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Lithuania
  • Representative, Ministry of Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania

Moderated by

Živilė Kropaitė-Basiulė, Journalist

12:30–14:00

LUNCH

14:00–14:45

DATA-DRIVEN HEALTHCARE –
TURNING EUROPE'S DATA ADVANTAGE INTO A COMPETITIVENESS STRATEGY

Opening presentation by

  • Dr Julius Juodakis, Head, Health Data Division, State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania)

Discussion session with:

  • Dr Peter Arlett, Head of Data Analytics and Methods Task Force, European Medicines Agency
  • Dr Julius Juodakis, Head, Health Data Division, State Data Agency (Statistics Lithuania)
  • Assoc. Prof. Dr Valdas Pečeliūnas, Director, National Cancer Centre
  • Padraic Ward, Head, Pharma International, Roche

Moderated by

Olegas Niakšu, Digital Transformation Adviser, Researcher, Vilnius University

14:45–15:30

PREVENTION AS A STRATEGIC DEFENCE –
INVESTING IN HEALTH RESILIENCE IN A NEW GEOPOLITICAL ERA

Opening presentation by

  • Martin Smatana, Associate Fellow, GLOBSEC

Discussion session with:

  • Prof. Dr Sonata Jarmalaitė, Adviser to the President of the Republic of Lithuania on Health
  • Mike Morrissey, Associate Vice President, Global Public Policy, Europe & Canada, MSD
  • Martin Smatana, Associate Fellow, GLOBSEC
  • Aurelijus Veryga, Member, European Parliament

Moderated by

Dr Živilė Simonaitytė-Vasiliauskienė, Economist and Public Policy Expert

15:30–16:00

ROAD TO LITHUANIA’S PRESIDENCY OF THE COUNCIL OF THE EU

Fireside chat with

  • Daniel Naumovas, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania

Moderated by

Živilė Kropaitė-Basiulė, Journalist

16:00–16:15

CLOSING

Remarks by

  • Sigitas Mitkus, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Lithuania

16:30–18:30

EVENING RECEPTION

ACCOMMODATION

Forum participants are welcome to take advantage of a special offer from Hilton Garden Inn Vilnius City Centre, located just across the street from the event venue.

A 15% discount is available for stays from 15 to 17 November 2026. To make a reservation, please contact reservations@hgivilnius.com and quote the promo code FORUM2026.

Before booking your accommodation, please make sure that your registration for the Forum has been confirmed by a separate email.

BOOKING

ORGANISERS

SAM — Ministry of Health of the Republic of Lithuania IFPA — The Innovative Pharmaceutical Industry Association