From 16–19 June 2026, the PROVIDE Network gathered in Innsbruck, Austria, for its fifth Training School (TS5), hosted at the headquarters of our industrial partner, MED-EL. Over four inspiring days, doctoral candidates (DCs), supervisors, and partners came together to share research progress, gain new scientific insights, develop transferable skills, and strengthen collaborations across the network.
As the first Training School hosted by one of PROVIDE’s industrial partners, TS5 placed a special emphasis on the real-world challenges of medical device development. Participants gained valuable perspectives on how research translates into innovative healthcare technologies, while also exploring topics such as intellectual property, reimbursement, and cost-effectiveness.
Day 1: Research Progress and Collaboration
The Training School opened with poster presentations from half of the doctoral candidates, who shared updates on their research projects with the wider consortium.
Participants also enjoyed two engaging lectures from Ursula Bayer, Head of Training at MED-EL, and Geoffrey Ball, Chief Technical Officer, who shared the fascinating history behind the development of hearing implant technologies at MED-EL.
The afternoon was dedicated to extended supervisory team meetings, providing valuable opportunities for in-depth discussions on individual research projects and future planning.
The day concluded with a consortium dinner at a traditional Austrian restaurant, offering a relaxed setting for informal conversations and strengthening connections across the network.
Day 2: From Innovation to Healthcare Impact
The second day focused on the scientific and practical aspects of medical device development.
Participants attended lectures covering a wide range of topics, including:
- Common challenges and pitfalls in medical device development, presented by Erland Fuglsbjerg (BBELT).
- Cost-effectiveness of medical devices for treating vestibular loss, presented by Dr. Karin Vermeulen (UMCG).
- Medical device reimbursement from an industry perspective, presented by Jone Gerdvilaite, Head of Reimbursements & Health Technology Assessment at MED-EL.
A planned lecture by Dr. Hayo Breinbauer Krebs (University of Chile) on the integration of the vestibular system with other sensory and motor systems had to be rescheduled due to technical issues and was later delivered online. Recordings of the lectures by Dr. Vermeulen and Dr. Breinbauer Krebs will be made available through the PROVIDE Learning Hub, while presentations from industry partners remain confidential due to intellectual property considerations.
The second group of doctoral candidates presented their research posters during the day, again receiving valuable feedback from both supervisors and peers.
Lastly, the Supervisory Board met to review progress across the project, discussing topics including governance, finances, training, reporting, open science, research data management, and communication activities.
Day 3: Open Science, Intellectual Property, and Career Development
The third day explored the balance between scientific openness and innovation.
The morning featured lectures on intellectual property and patenting by Sasha Fucks (MED-EL IP Team) and Dr. Katrin Tanzer, Technology Transfer Officer at the University of Innsbruck. These sessions were followed by an interactive panel discussion, moderated by doctoral candidates Gabrielle Vassard-Yu and Máté Unger, where participants discussed questions surrounding open science, patents, and protecting research innovations.
In the afternoon, the doctoral candidates worked together on a cost-effectiveness assignment under the guidance of Dr. Karin Vermeulen. This collaborative exercise contributes to Deliverable D5.6 of the PROVIDE project.
The day concluded with a business networking event, bringing together PROVIDE members and professionals from across MED-EL, including colleagues from engineering, product management, and human resources. The event provided an excellent opportunity for doctoral candidates to learn about careers in industry, explore future employment opportunities, and gain insight into the diverse roles involved in bringing medical technologies to patients.
Day 4: Behind the Scenes at MED-EL
The final day offered participants a unique behind-the-scenes tour of part of MED-EL’s cochlear implant manufacturing facilities, providing a first-hand look at how innovative medical devices move from research into production.
Following the tour, the doctoral candidates participated in a practical session led by PROVIDE Project Manager and Data Steward Joelle Jagersma (UMCG). During the workshop, the DCs registered their research metadata in the MOLGENIS catalogue, taking another important step towards making their research data FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).
Looking Back
Training School 5 successfully combined scientific exchange, professional development, and industry engagement in a highly collaborative environment. By bringing together researchers, clinicians, industry experts, and project partners, the event strengthened the PROVIDE network while giving doctoral candidates valuable insights into the pathway from academic research to real-world medical innovation.
A sincere thank you goes to MED-EL for hosting the event and to all speakers, supervisors, and participants for making TS5 another successful milestone in the PROVIDE project. We look forward to building on these experiences at the next PROVIDE Training School.
