Innovative Health Initiative to pilot novel, applicant-driven approach to next call for proposals

The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) has announced its plans to pilot a novel, applicant-driven approach to its next call for proposals. Registration is now open for an online networking platform and face-to-face brokerage event.

Boosting innovation for a competitive European health ecosystem

Until now, the scope of all IHI call topics has been clearly defined in terms of the health challenges to be addressed and the outcomes and impacts expected from the resulting projects. However, there are still untapped opportunities in our IHI Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) for novel ideas on how to harness new science and technologies to foster the development of health innovations.

This is why IHI call 9, which is scheduled for launch in early 2025, has a much broader scope than previous calls, as it will welcome proposals covering any aspect of the SRIA.

Proposals will still have to adhere to the philosophy of IHI. In other words, they will have to: address an unmet public health need; require a large-scale, ambitious, cross-sector, public-private partnership; have clearly-described impacts on society, the economy and science; take account of the pre-competitive nature of IHI projects.

• Read more about the call here

Sign up for our info session and brokerage platform and event

To help potential applicants share ideas and start building a consortium, IHI has set up an online networking platform and will hold a face-to-face brokerage event in Brussels on 12-13 November – registration for both is via this link. In addition to extensive networking time, the event will feature pitches on project ideas and posters from organisations keen to participate in new projects. As a first step, and to tell people more about the call and how to get the most out of the brokerage platform and event, IHI will hold an online info session on 10 October. Registration for the info session is free but obligatory.

A standard, single-stage call

From a procedural point of view, IHI call 9 will be a standard, single-stage call for proposals. In practice, this means that applicants will have to ensure that half of their project’s costs are covered by in-kind contributions from IHI’s industry members and (if relevant) IHI contributing partners.

Questions? E-mail applicants@ihi.europa.eu or contact your National Contact Points Emilie Fonck and Mariza Colin (efonck@hub.brussels; mecolin@hub.brussels).