This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination 5 "Unlocking the full potential of new tools, technologies and digital solutions for a healthy society". To that end, proposals under this topic should aim for delivering results that are directed, tailored and contributing to all of the following expected outcomes:

The consortium of COVID-X announces the launch of Open Call #2 for a unique acceleration programme in Europe to fast-track to market 15+ European data technology solutions, addressing COVID-19 challenges and facilitating an innovative stack of AI-driven tools in order to defeat the pandemic.

The European Commission is inviting public health stakeholders to submit initiatives for anew cycle of Thematic Networks under the EU Health Policy Platform. The purpose of a Thematic Network is to produce a Joint Statement within a year, summarising the common position of a group of stakeholder organisations on one of the following selected public health areas:

Following the launch of the European Innovation Council (EIC) and the announcement of the first funding opportunities, today the Commission opened the first EIC Accelerator calls. The funding worth over €1 billion aims to help scale up start-ups and small and medium-sized businesses that have the potential to achieve high impact. While over half of the funding is open to breakthrough innovations in any field, €495 million are earmarked for innovations that support the European Green Deal as well as digital and health technologies.

The consortium of COVID-X announces the launch of the ​1st Open Call ​framed in a ​2-year initiative that will invest ​4 million € to fast-track to market 30+ European data technology solutions defeating COVID-19 Challenges, facilitating an innovative stack of AI-driven tools.

• In May 2017, a new Regulation on medical devices, Regulation (EU) 2017/745 entered into force that will come into effect in spring 2020. This new Regulation sets forth reinforced rules for the generation of clinical evidence: for instance, clinical investigations for high-risk devices will be compulsory and the requirements regarding the clinical evaluation throughout the product lifetime are more stringent.

Cell and gene-based therapies have the potential to treat many debilitating diseases and conditions. However, the pace of their clinical development does not meet public expectations. They face difficulties reaching patients because inter alia the complexity and costs of product development, regulatory hurdles and the non-harmonized procedures for reimbursements. In addition, there are concerns over patient safety due to the use of unproven treatments.