The WHO Collaborating Center at Université Côte d’Azur brings together experts and decision-makers to discuss innovation in public health
- Health
Published on July 22, 2026
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Updated on July 22, 2026
Dates
on the July 22, 2026
How can we rethink health policies in light of an aging population and noncommunicable diseases? In July, Université Côte d’Azur hosted an international workshop and the fourth WHO Summer School to identify the solutions of tomorrow.
Following its official designation in 2025 as a World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Systems Thinking and Innovation in the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases, the Ulysseus Innovation Hub on Aging and Well-being continues its commitment to more innovative and sustainable public health.
Under the leadership of Prof. Anne Vuillemin, the Collaborating Center supports the WHO in three main missions: developing expertise in systems thinking, supporting research on innovation applied to the prevention of noncommunicable diseases, and contributing to the creation of an innovation ecosystem for public health.
These missions were notably brought to life through two key events held in July 2026: a high-level technical workshop bringing together international experts and decision-makers, followed by the fourth edition of the WHO Summer School, dedicated to strengthening skills in systems thinking and innovation in public health.
The workshop launched a strategic dialogue on the links between healthy aging, noncommunicable diseases, and innovation, drawing on systems thinking and foresight (horizon scanning) approaches. The discussions helped identify levers for action to develop more integrated, people-centered, and sustainable public policies. The findings will inform a discussion paper that will be presented and further explored at the WHO/Europe Innovation Summit, scheduled for September 2026.
Over the course of four days, 30 participants from numerous countries—including researchers, public health professionals, and policymakers—shared their experiences and developed their skills in systems thinking, innovation, behavioral sciences, healthy aging, and the prevention of noncommunicable diseases.
Through lectures, collaborative workshops, and interdisciplinary exchanges, this Summer School fostered the development of new approaches to address major public health challenges. It fully exemplifies the mission of the Collaborating Center: to build capacity, support research, and encourage international cooperation in the prevention of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of healthy aging.
These two events confirm Université Côte d’Azur’s role as a key partner alongside the WHO in developing innovative solutions to major public health challenges, while strengthening its international influence in the fields of research, education, and innovation.
Under the leadership of Prof. Anne Vuillemin, the Collaborating Center supports the WHO in three main missions: developing expertise in systems thinking, supporting research on innovation applied to the prevention of noncommunicable diseases, and contributing to the creation of an innovation ecosystem for public health.
These missions were notably brought to life through two key events held in July 2026: a high-level technical workshop bringing together international experts and decision-makers, followed by the fourth edition of the WHO Summer School, dedicated to strengthening skills in systems thinking and innovation in public health.
A High-Level Workshop to Shape Tomorrow’s Policies
On July 20, 2026, the Collaborating Center organized the High-level Technical Workshop on Linking Healthy Aging, NCDs, and Innovation for Public Health Action in Nice, bringing together representatives from ministries of health and social affairs, WHO/Europe teams, researchers, international experts, and innovation stakeholders.The workshop launched a strategic dialogue on the links between healthy aging, noncommunicable diseases, and innovation, drawing on systems thinking and foresight (horizon scanning) approaches. The discussions helped identify levers for action to develop more integrated, people-centered, and sustainable public policies. The findings will inform a discussion paper that will be presented and further explored at the WHO/Europe Innovation Summit, scheduled for September 2026.
The Fourth Edition of the WHO Summer School
From July 21 to 24, 2026, the Collaborating Center also hosted the fourth edition of the WHO Summer School, dedicated to the theme “Systems Thinking and Innovation for Preventing Noncommunicable Diseases and Promoting Healthy Aging in the WHO European Region.”Over the course of four days, 30 participants from numerous countries—including researchers, public health professionals, and policymakers—shared their experiences and developed their skills in systems thinking, innovation, behavioral sciences, healthy aging, and the prevention of noncommunicable diseases.
Through lectures, collaborative workshops, and interdisciplinary exchanges, this Summer School fostered the development of new approaches to address major public health challenges. It fully exemplifies the mission of the Collaborating Center: to build capacity, support research, and encourage international cooperation in the prevention of noncommunicable diseases and the promotion of healthy aging.
These two events confirm Université Côte d’Azur’s role as a key partner alongside the WHO in developing innovative solutions to major public health challenges, while strengthening its international influence in the fields of research, education, and innovation.
