ScanBalt Health Region serves as an umbrella for a multitude of coordinated activities applying to shared visions, values and strategies for the development of the region and utilizing a common communication structure. Otherwise the individual activities act independently. This is a bottom-up approach combined with a top-down advisory structure which has been developed, tested and applied for ScanBalt BioRegion since 2001. The promotion of public health on a high level and the exploitation of modern life sciences are prerequisites for the Baltic Sea Region to become a globally competitive and prosperous macro-region. Furthermore the demographic challenges can only be met in an open innovation market across all sectors of science, technology but also social wellbeing. The purpose of ScanBalt Health Region is to (1) bundle regional competences within life sciences and health; (2) elaborate, align and integrate smart innovation and development strategies meeting the needs and demands of both metropolitan and rural regions; (3) establish and promote a professional, trans-regional, service based collaboration platform (ScanBalt IBIS = International Business Innovation Support); (4) connect the interests for collaboration and interaction between Priority Areas in the EUSBSR Action plan within health, inno, SME, bio, agri and tourism. Finally ScanBalt Health Region is a platform for enhancing branding and visibility of the Baltic Sea Region in order to attract and retain human, financial and industrial resources. ScanBalt Health Region is to be regarded as a model for a knowledge-based health and bio economy leading to high added value jobs based on a shared and bottom up developed strategy. Achievements: What has been achieved so far?• HealthPort Innovation Agenda released Nov 2013 proposing a BSR innovation ecosystem in health economy (HealthPort)• HealthShare diagnostic innovation platform being established (PATHOS)• Concept for a ScanBalt educational platform supporting entrepreneurship proposed and being developed (HealthPort) • Tools established for supporting early and mature innovations in ScanBalt BioRegion (HealthPort)• Business development by idea competitions and tailor made business support actions, 6 SMEs selected (HealthPort)• ScanBalt BioRegion Business Club established as a platform for marketing, promotion and support of SMEs (HealthPort)• Participant in project on talent attraction and retention (ONE BSR)• Export of knowledge to Vietnam in medical training (NICE)