Summer School in Nice brings together international leading experts in systems science and public health

The Summer School on “Systems thinking and innovation for preventing noncommunicable diseases and promoting healthy ageing in the WHO European Region,” held in Nice, France, from 15 to 18 July 2025, brought together leading international experts in systems science, innovation, healthy ageing, behavioural sciences, public health, and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).

The event welcomed 30 participants from around the world, including researchers, public health professionals, and policymakers, fostering a dynamic and diverse environment for knowledge exchange and networking. Over four days of rich discussions, collaboration, and learning, participants explored innovative strategies to tackle some of today’s most pressing global health challenges.

“The rise in NCDs – closely linked to ageing – further intensifies pressures on health systems and public resources. Addressing these challenges while preserving population well-being requires a systems thinking approach, capable of capturing the dynamic interactions between medical, psychological, social, economic, and environmental factors.”
– Stéphane Ngo Mai, Vice-President Ulysseus at Université Côte d’Azur 

Co-organised by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Université Côte d’Azur, and Ulysseus European University, with technical contributions from Queen’s University Belfast and York University, the event also marked the official designation of the Ulysseus Innovation Hub on Ageing and Well-being as a WHO Collaborating Centre on Systems Thinking and Innovation for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases.

The Ulysseus Innovation Hub on Ageing and Well-being thus becomes a WHO Collaborating Centre, recognising the expertise and commitment of the University in the major public health challenges.

“This WHO designation recognises the work carried out by our teams and our capacity to innovate in the face of public health challenges. It is also an opportunity to strengthen our international collaborations and train tomorrow’s professionals in systemic and interdisciplinary approaches.”
— Anne Vuillemin, Vice-President for Doctoral Policy at Université Côte d’Azur and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre

This new status opens fresh opportunities for Ulysseus European University to strengthen public health initiatives, promoting systemic and innovative approaches to address noncommunicable diseases across the European Region.

About the Ulysseus Innovation Hub Ageing and Well-being

Innovation Hubs (IH) are the Ulysseus innovative joint structure for collaboration. Ulysseus main activities are co-created and developed at the heart of our IHs. Based at Université Côte d’Azur in Nice (France), the IH Ageing and Well-being wishes to strengthen and promote innovative disciplinary, inter-, and transdisciplinary research to better understand and explain the biological process of ageing and its implications.