This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination 6 "Maintaining an innovative, sustainable and globally competitive health industry". To that end, proposals under this topic should aim for delivering results that are directed, tailored towards and contributing to all of the following expected outcomes:
- Empowered patients and citizens of all ages, gender, social and economic background adopt and use digital tools to monitor their health status independently.
- A strong European ecosystem is created by innovators in the health domain, including, but not limited to SMEs, Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs), accelerators, incubators, (European) Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIH), European Reference Sites of the EIP-AHA and Knowledge Hubs, involving end-users.
- Public and private entities adopt the innovations of European digital health companies, especially SMEs and mid-caps, enhancing their sustainability and resilience.
- Citizens, patients, health practitioners and facilities, public and private actors access and make use of sustainable EU-wide reference repository of digitally-enabled innovative solutions addressing all health related sectors, areas and segments, with particular focus on self-management and prevention.
The EU has supported innovation of digital tools for better and more personalised treatments and self-monitoring of citizens and patients throughout Europe. However, adoption and deployment of digital health solutions in practice, both in the public health system and by private players remains low.
Building on the recommendations from the report of the Strategic Forum for Important Projects of Common European Interest, coordination and support is needed to: i) create a pan-European operational network as a mechanism (a European Smart Health Innovation Hub) that can assess and promote Smart Health initiatives; ii) stimulate the demand-side and the uptake of Smart Health products and services; and iii) support the development of Smart Health products and services.
Applicants should propose activities addressing the need to bring together different actors, working on innovative digital health solutions and to reinforce their collaboration, exchange and efforts on scaling-up digital health solutions across Europe. Proposals should encourage a people-centred approach that empowers citizens and patients, promotes a culture of dialogue and openness between citizens, patients, health practitioners and providers, and other public and private actors, and unleashes the potential of social innovation.
Applicants should link various existing repositories of digital health solutions, which are already deployable as part of different EU projects and initiatives. It is necessary to integrate them into a European Digital Health Smart Innovation Hub, which will serve as a European reference platform for scalable digital health solutions, both for public organisations and private actors, connecting supply and demand side.
Applicants should propose activities in several of the following areas:
- Promote transfer and exchange of knowledge and best practices (such as twinnings) between different actors, such as SMEs, mid-caps, accelerators, incubators, RTOs, EDIHs, Reference Sites of the EIP-AHA and Knowledge Hubs, such as EIT KIC Health, eHealth Hub or mHealth Hub - working on innovation of digital health solutions, including training to end-users, e.g. citizens, patients, health care providers, and deployment strategies.
- Promote scalability of digital innovation solutions by organising market places and pitching events to public health organisations and private entities and by involving industry and Member States representatives.
- Integrating existing repositories into a sustainable European repository, serving as a reference of ready to market solutions (supply side) and public and private organisations adopting them (demand side), as well as best practices.
- Reinforce the European Digital Health ecosystem by enhancing collaboration and networking between the different actors working on digital health innovation across Europe. Synergies with other relevant initiatives, like the Digital Transformation Accelerator that will manage the network of European Digital Innovation Hubs are encouraged, as well as with relevant initiatives in AI, Data and Robotics in Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe, Digital Europe and other programmes.
- The Digital Health solutions that would be part of the European Smart Health Innovation Hub should match the needs of all citizens and patients, regardless of their age, gender, social or economic background.
Opening date: 06 October 2021
Deadline: 21 April 2022 17:00:00 Brussels time
Deadline Model: single-stage
Type of action: HORIZON-CSA HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions
For topic conditions, documents and submission service, please visit:
https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/horizon-hlth-2022-ind-13-04;callCode=HORIZON-HLTH-2022-IND-13