06th July 2026
On 15–16 June 2026, the co-OPERATOR consortium gathered in Porto, Portugal, for its fifth project meeting, kindly hosted by the Directorate-General of Health (DGS). Partners from across Europe met to review project progress, discuss recent developments, and coordinate the final phase of the project. Dr Angelos Kassianos, Dr Maria Kyprianidou, and Dr Laoura Panagi represented the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT).
During the meeting, partners reviewed progress across the project’s work packages, including developments of the co-OPERATOR AI platform, ongoing research activities, healthcare professional training, dissemination activities, and preparations for the project’s final outputs. Discussions also focused on recent enhancements to the AI platform, including improved response quality, greater transparency through reliable source validation, and closer alignment with the principles of the EU AI Act.
On the second day, consortium members participated in a joint session with representatives from other European initiatives working in the field of vaccination, including EU4Health-funded projects. The session provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, explore opportunities for collaboration, and discuss approaches to strengthening vaccine confidence through coordinated action and knowledge sharing across Europe. Partners also identified priorities for the project’s final phase and preparations for the co-OPERATOR Final Conference.
The meeting concluded with a national awareness event organized by DGS, bringing co-OPERATOR closer to the local community. Around thirty students participated in an interactive session on vaccination, beginning with an introduction to the project and followed by small-group discussions exploring different aspects of vaccine confidence and public health. The session concluded with a demonstration of the co-OPERATOR platform and its AI chatbot, giving participants the opportunity to explore the tools and provide valuable feedback to support their further development.
As the project enters its final phase, the consortium looks forward to the co-OPERATOR Final Conference and to celebrating the project’s achievements while continuing to promote evidence-based vaccination communication across Europe.
