International partnerships
International partnerships enable HUGO to benchmark innovative healthcare models, strengthen research collaborations, enrich education and training, develop strategic expert networks, and enhance the international visibility and attractiveness of its member institutions. By learning from and collaborating with leading healthcare systems worldwide, HUGO can accelerate innovation and better address the healthcare challenges of the future.
Partnership between the Danish Embassy in France and GCS HUGO
Learning from international best practices to build the hospital of the future
Thanks to the collaboration with the Danish Embassy in France, HUGO has developed since 2022 a strategic collaboration with Denmark , widely recognized as one of Europe’s most innovative healthcare systems. Through a series of study visits and exchanges with Danish hospitals, healthcare authorities and experts, HUGO aims to identify and adapt best practices that can support the transformation of university hospitals in Western France.
The partnership initially focused on the concept of the “hospital of the future” , exploring how Denmark has successfully reorganized its healthcare system around integrated care pathways, strong coordination between hospitals and community-based services, and a patient-centered approach to care . Particular attention has been given to the role of digital technologies in improving care delivery, supporting clinical decision-making and enhancing system-wide efficiency.
A key area of interest has been the Danish experience in designing and operating new-generation hospitals. Through visits to recently developed facilities such as Aarhus University Hospital, HUGO members have gained insights into large-scale hospital transformation projects , including the integration of care, research and education, the use of digital infrastructure, and innovative approaches to hospital management and patient flow.
More recently, the collaboration has expanded to include sustainable healthcare and environmental responsibility . HUGO delegations have explored how Danish healthcare institutions incorporate sustainability into hospital design, governance and daily operations, with the objective of reducing the environmental footprint of healthcare while maintaining high standards of quality and safety.
Beyond knowledge sharing, this partnership provides a platform for strategic reflection among HUGO member institutions. It enables healthcare leaders, clinicians, researchers and hospital managers to benchmark their practices against international leaders and to collectively shape innovative solutions for the future of healthcare.
Through this ongoing collaboration, HUGO seeks to accelerate innovation in healthcare delivery, digital transformation, hospital planning and sustainability, while strengthening its international outlook and capacity to address the major challenges facing healthcare systems in the decades ahead.