Session 6

An innovation fund for transformative health technologies

Advancing patient access and European competitiveness

Organised by MSD in collaboration with the European Policy Centre, EUCOPE and the European Alliance for Personalized Medicine

As negotiations on the next European Union (EU) Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) intensify, health risks are being overshadowed by competing priorities. Yet, in a context of demographic change, an ageing workforce, and a growing burden of chronic disease, investing in health is both a social and a strategic priority - and ultimately benefits its citizens.

Today, European patients often wait longer for access to innovation (IQVIA 2024) and the gap is worsening. Across the EU, the average rate of availability for innovative medicines has seen a steady decline over the last years, while the average time to availability has risen (EFPIA 2026 / IQVIA 2026). Access to health technologies, such as genomic testing, also remains uneven and fragmented across Member States. These disparities risk widening inequalities and weakening Europe’s global leadership in life sciences.

This session explores whether a dedicated European innovation fund for transformative health technologies could help bridge the gap between innovation and patient access. It will also consider how such a fund could complement initiatives like the Biotech Act and the Life Sciences Strategy to better deliver innovation to citizens. A key question is whether health innovation should be part of a broader competitiveness fund or supported through a dedicated, ring-fenced instrument.

Ultimately, equal access, competitiveness, and innovation are closely interconnected. Join us to discuss how the next MFF can support innovation, strengthen resilience, and deliver better outcomes for patients across Europe.

Speakers to be announced