#EAPM: Horizon Europe - research and innovation in health care and beyond

It will also aim to strengthen the role of research and innovation in, and for, policymaking, while reinforcing the link between research and innovation and policy priorities. (see article 3. 2 (c))

Meanwhile, to steer science, research and innovation, the EU will be setting up high-level Councils to include the European Research Council (Article 7), the ERC Scientific council (Article 8), and the European Innovation Council (Article 10).

EAPM has often noted that there needs to be better links to policy priorities, so as to bring about an implementation impact. The Alliance has highlighted that there needs to more strategic direction and connection to the policy context. Higher-level councils are required to give guidance.

A further Commission priority sees its ‘Pillar 3 on Open Innovation’ look to offer a one-stop shop for high-potential innovators, with fast, flexible grant-type advances and co-investments with private investors. (Please see Impact assessment Pillar 3, page 17)

In the specific arena of health, among other matters, the Commission notes that research and innovation played a significant part in life expectancy in the EU while also improving the productivity and quality of the health and care industry.

However, it acknowledges challenges posed by the sustainability of its healthcare and social protection systems, as well as the competitiveness of its health and care industry.

It details that strategic health challenges are complex, interlinked and global and require multidisciplinary, cross-sectional and transitional collaborations. (See Page 16 et al of Annex)

On the topic of transnational collaborations, the landmark  Declaration on data for healthcare purposes signed at the European Commission’s recent Digital Day 2018, will help to enable the digital transformation of health and care while empowering citizens and building a healthier society.

Digital Day 2018, held in conjunction with the Bulgarian EU Presidency, saw 15 countries sign a Joint Declaration to collaborate on a groundbreaking one-million genomes project.

EAPM originally floated the idea under the banner of MEGA - Million European Genomes Project - and with the leadership of DG CONNECT, the idea has gathered support and pace.

Alliance Co-Chairman and former Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner David Byrne said on the day: “It is necessary to federate the stakeholders and collaboration is essential.”

Elsewhere in the Commission’s latest plans there are also specific (and welcome) references to non-communicable disease and co-morbidity management, which have always been key aspects of EAPM’s work and will remain so. (See Page 18 - Annex)

Within the health section are further references to 'Tools and technologies for Health’ and

On a general note, EAPM has already noted that there is a wide research-to-market gap in Europe.

The latest EU innovation scoreboard, published in June 2017, noted that although the innovation performance of the EU is improving, progress is too slow. Many of our global competitors are in-creasing their innovation performance at a faster pace, and performance gaps remain wide within the EU itself.

Europe’s comparative advantages in education, research, broadband infrastructure and ICT training are not matched by venture capital investments and the number of SMEs introducing innovations, both of which have declined.

Taking real advantage of Europe's excellence in research to improve citizens' lives presents challenges that Europe's policymakers have not yet fully met.

The European Union has shown some clarity of assessment in recognizing the needs, and some laudable determination to improve the situation, and it has intermittently taken some real steps to deliver on its ambitions to turn its research into valuable innovations.

But as we move towards the third decade of the 21st century, Europe still faces some harsh choices about whether it is actually going to do what it has so often discussed.

The EU has to make some firm decisions about what research deserves support - and where. It must turn words into deeds about promoting effective links between research and innovation.

That requires a sharper focus about developing and retaining the right skill sets in Europe, about funding innovation, about creating an encouraging regulatory environment, and about building greater public understanding and engagement.

And for personalised medicine above all, the EU has a key role that it should play in bringing together the multiple disciplines required to turn this vast potential of a new approach to healthcare into delivery to patients and to health systems. There can be no more ‘silo’ mentalities going for-ward.

Of course, the looming Brexit is creating turbulence for EU policymaking in general and for research strategy in particular, and consequently has disconcerting resonances for healthcare innovation.

The eligibility of UK participants for future EU research projects is under threat, with negative implications that extend to the EU too, since UK engagement in EU projects has until now been a significant contributor to research design and to positive results.

So that personalised medicine becomes widely perceived as a legitimate and desirable innovation, there is a need now for reassurance of the healthcare sector as to its merits - and EAPM believes that the best way to do that is to ensure that innovation is brought more effectively and more rapidly into healthcare systems, so that patients and citizens can see the benefit.

It is duly noted that the European Commission is working towards these goals, yet input from the Alliance’s stakeholders and others is certainly required to tighten up or broaden any proposals before 7 June.

Suggestions will be taken on board via the EAPM Working Group on Translational Research. Comments can be sent to the Alliance’s office and will be discussed in this Working Group in the coming weeks.  Feedback should be sent by 18 May.