12 Dec 2024
EARTO publishes Input Paper on Health Research and Innovation for FP10

On 12 December 2024, 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 emphasises 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.
To maximise the impact of Europe's RTOs in advancing life sciences and frontier health technologies, the EARTO Working Group on Emerging Technologies for Healthcare details seven main action areas for consideration in the next Framework Programme (FP10):
- Securing adequate funding for future health technologies,
- Revitalising SME involvement in healthcare innovation,
- Closing early-stage research and innovation gaps to strengthen the entire healthcare innovation chain,
- Promoting cross-cutting health technology development,
- Reigniting industry collaboration with RTOs in health-focused partnerships,
- Establishing a cohesive digital health ecosystem,
- Developing sustainable technology infrastructures for health innovation testing and validation.
These recommendations aim to enhance Europe's competitiveness in health technology, increase resilience against health crises, and fully harness the potential of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
The paper can be downloaded here: