Large amounts of valuable health data are generated and collected during and between citizens' medical examinations across Europe. However, opportunities to reuse these data for research and better healthcare are often missed because health data continue to be confined in data silos, often not matching semantic standards, quality needs and safe data exchange techniques.

The progress in computer modelling and simulation applied in disease management is a European strength and various Decision Support Systems have been developed for different medical disciplines. While the market is developing today, addressing the need of more precise and personalised diagnostics and treatments, the proposed software tools and platforms often need to further conquer visibility and trust from users and investors to get implemented in the routine clinical practice.

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is launching a new Call for proposals covering diabetes, antimicrobial resistance, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and medicines safety during pregnancy and breastfeeding, to name just a few. The total budget of the Call is EUR 223 million, around half of which comes from the EU's Horizon 2020 programme, and half of which comes from EFPIA companies and IMI Associated Partners.

The Communication on the mid-term review of the implementation of the Digital Single Market Strategy (COM(2017)228) identified three priorities on digital transformation of health and care (DTHC): citizens' access to their data; data infrastructure; interaction between citizens and healthcare providers for better health management. That document indicated that specific measures would be elaborated in a dedicated Communication to be adopted in the months to follow.

Demographic change and the ageing of the population create new heterogeneous challenges for age-friendly living, recreational and working environments such as a shrinking workforce and increasing numbers of workers with functional impairments, chronic conditions, care duties or re-integration in and later retirement from the labour market.

Citizens in ageing populations wish to stay in their homes for as long as possible. They are however at risk of age related impairments such as poor health, cognitive impairment, frailty and social exclusion with considerable negative consequences for their independence, quality of life, that of those who care for them, and for the sustainability of health and care systems.

The Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI) is launching two new Calls for proposals with topics on Alzheimer's disease, big data, vaccines, autoimmune disease, the blood-brain barrier, drug development, and the exploitation of IMI project results. The total budget for the two Calls stands at just over EUR 130 million.