"Action or Inaction?" SDA Bocconi's Digital Transformation Hub Launches a New Chapter in Europe's AI and Healthcare Dialogue

"Action or Inaction? A Privileged Talk on the EU AI Act" was the title of the event organized by the Digital Transformation Hub at CeRGAS – SDA Bocconi School of Management. The event brought together representatives from European institutions, industry, and academia to mark the beginning of a new phase in the discussion surrounding the adoption of artificial intelligence in healthcare.

This initiative comes at a key turning point for digital innovation in European healthcare. With the EU AI Act coming into force in August 2024, the spotlight now shifts to its real-world implementation across national healthcare systems — a transition marked by both developmental potential and the risk of regulatory fragmentation. The Digital Transformation Hub (DTH) at CeRGAS-SDA Bocconi aims to serve as a strategic anchor in this transition, advocating for integrated governance and a systemic perspective.

Direct Dialogue with the European Commission

Following opening remarks by Amelia Compagni, Director of CeRGAS SDA Bocconi, the event continued with an address by Marco Marsella, Director at the European Commission – DG SANTE – Digital, EU4Health and Health Systems Modernisation. Marsella outlined the guiding principles of the AI Act, focusing on its implications for the healthcare sector. In conversation with Rosanna Tarricone, Associate Dean for Government, Health and Not for Profit Division, the discussion highlighted how the EU regulation seeks to balance the protection of fundamental rights, safety, and the encouragement of responsible innovation.

"Only thoughtful regulation," emphasized Marsella, "can turn AI's promise into real value for patients, enabling its safe and ethical adoption."

The Strategic Role of the Digital Transformation Hub

In the next session, Lorenzo Diaferia and Patrizio Armeni — researcher and coordinator of the DTH, respectively — offered a strategic take on the current shifts in the AI healthcare market. Armeni stressed the need for a cohesive approach that integrates regulation, technology, management models, and cultural change:

"Futuristic ideas and ambitious regulations are not enough. We need support structures that can turn innovation into real-world impact."

The Digital Transformation Hub is thus reaffirmed as a platform for both thought and action — facilitating the development of a shared language among policymakers, academia, professionals, citizens, and industry. The aim is to move beyond siloed thinking, which still limits the full realization of digital health projects.

European Roundtable: Comparing Experiences

The afternoon featured an international roundtable with stakeholders and institutional representatives from Belgium, France, Germany, and Italy. Key themes included:

• The importance of flexible adoption models tailored to local contexts.
• The urgency of transnational governance to ensure data interoperability and trust.
• The need for shared evaluation tools for digital medical devices and AI-based solutions.

Moderated by Alberta Spreafico (SDA Bocconi), the panelists discussed national challenges, strategies, and approaches, converging on one central point: only co-designed and coordinated regulation, developed alongside system stakeholders, can support sustainable AI development in healthcare.

Conclusion

In her closing remarks, Rosanna Tarricone reaffirmed CeRGAS-SDA Bocconi's commitment to creating dialogue that goes beyond theoretical discourse — generating concrete proposals and actionable insights in line with European values and a global outlook.

The "Action or Inaction?" event thus marks the beginning of a journey where the Digital Transformation Hub will play a leading role in shaping a more integrated, effective, and human-centered digital healthcare ecosystem.

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