On 16th January 2025, the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) unveiled two significant funding opportunities: IHI Call 9 and IHI Call 10. Collectively, these calls represent a substantial investment in health research and innovation, with a combined budget of approximately €261 million. This funding is sourced from Horizon Europe, the European Union’s research and innovation program, and is matched by contributions from Europe’s health industries.
IHI Call 9: Embracing an Applicant-Driven Approach
IHI Call 9 introduces a novel, applicant-driven model, marking a departure from previous IHI calls where specific challenges were predefined. In this call, applicants are invited to explore the IHI Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) to identify opportunities and develop proposals that align with its objectives. This approach empowers researchers and innovators to propose projects that address unmet public health needs through large-scale, cross-sector public-private partnerships. Proposals should clearly articulate their anticipated impacts on society, the economy, and science, while adhering to IHI’s pre-competitive framework.
Niklas Blomberg, IHI’s Executive Director, emphasised the transformative potential of this approach:
“With IHI Call 9, we are really pioneering a novel, more open way of identifying high-impact projects. We expect that this applicant-led approach will deliver transformative projects exploring areas of health research that we haven’t looked at so far, and bring in organisations that are not yet part of our community.”
The total investment for Call 9 is €191 million. As a single-stage call, applicants must collaborate with appropriate industry partners to ensure that half of their project’s costs are covered by in-kind contributions from IHI’s industry members and, if applicable, IHI contributing partners.
IHI Call 10: Targeted Topics in Health Innovation
Concurrently, IHI launched Call 10, a two-stage call for proposals focusing on three critical areas:
- Reducing PFAS in the Health Sector
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are synthetic chemicals integral to various healthcare products, including medicines, medical devices, packaging, and cleaning agents. However, due to their persistence in the environment and potential health risks, there is a growing need to minimise their use. This topic aims to investigate viable alternatives to PFAS and, where replacement isn’t feasible, explore strategies to reduce exposure and emissions while maintaining product quality and safety.
- Advancing the European Health Data Space (EHDS)
The EHDS initiative seeks to unlock the potential of safe and secure exchange, use, and reuse of health data within the EU. This topic focuses on developing frameworks, recommendations, and tools to support the EHDS’s implementation, particularly concerning the reuse of data for research purposes. The goal is to build trust among stakeholders and create a secure, collaborative ecosystem that optimizes data use and facilitates research advancements while protecting intellectual property.
- Implementing Digital Labels for Medical Devices
As medical devices become more compact, the amount of information required on printed labels has increased, often leading to user difficulties in accessing and reading essential details. This topic aims to establish a digital labeling concept applicable to all types and classes of medical and in vitro devices. By enabling users to access up-to-date, targeted information via digital means, such as scanning a QR code, this initiative seeks to enhance user experience and reduce the environmental impact associated with extensive printed materials.
The total budget allocated for the three topics under IHI Call 10 is nearly €70 million, equally funded by Horizon Europe and contributions from IHI industry members and contributing partners.
Application Process and Deadlines
For IHI Call 9, being a single-stage call, applicants are required to submit full proposals by 29th April 2025. In contrast, IHI Call 10 follows a two-stage process, with short proposals due by 23rd April 2025. Detailed information on application procedures, eligibility criteria, and evaluation processes can be found on the IHI website.
About the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI)
The IHI is a public-private partnership between the European Union and European industry associations representing the pharmaceutical, medical technology, biotechnology, digital health, and vaccine sectors. Its mission is to translate health research and innovation into tangible benefits for patients and society, ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of interdisciplinary, sustainable, patient-centric health research. By supporting projects that foster collaboration across diverse sectors, IHI aims to pave the way for a more integrated approach to healthcare, encompassing prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and disease management.
These new calls underscore IHI’s commitment to fostering innovation in health research by encouraging collaborative efforts that address pressing public health challenges and leverage the strengths of both public and private sectors.
