On 12 December, EARTO, the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations, released a position paper outlining their input on health research and innovation for the upcoming European Framework Programme (FP10). This paper emphasizes the critical role RTOs play in fostering an end-to-end innovation chain, facilitating the transition of emerging technologies into commercial products, particularly within the health sector. RTOs are significant contributors in various health-related areas such as biomedicine, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and digital health, enabling technology convergence and improved data integration.
Europe’s healthcare sector is under increasing strain due to factors such as ageing populations, chronic diseases, climate-related health issues, mental health challenges, anti-microbial resistance, potential future pandemics, and unsustainable healthcare costs. The EARTO paper highlights that Europe must address the gaps in its healthcare innovation chain to ensure the timely and efficient adoption of new health technologies from research to clinical application. Key focal points include enhancing health sector innovation, bolstering resilience to health crises, and leveraging artificial intelligence in medical research.