Innovative Health Initiative (IHI)

Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) serves as Europe's premier platform for transforming healthcare research into tangible benefits for patients and communities. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, IHI ensures Europe maintains its leadership position in sustainable, patient-focused health innovation. The initiative recognizes the increasingly interconnected nature of modern healthcare sectors and actively promotes projects that integrate diverse disciplines. Through this collaborative approach, IHI is establishing a more comprehensive healthcare framework that addresses the full spectrum of patient needs—from prevention and early diagnosis to advanced treatment protocols and long-term disease management strategies.

Established as a strategic partnership between the European Union and key industry associations, IHI brings together major stakeholders from across the healthcare ecosystem. These industry partners include COCIR (representing medical imaging and healthcare IT sectors), EFPIA (including Vaccines Europe), EuropaBio (the European Association for Bioindustries), and MedTech Europe. This coalition unites pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology firms, medical technology innovators, and digital health pioneers under one collaborative umbrella, creating unprecedented opportunities for cross-sector innovation and knowledge exchange in addressing complex health challenges.

With a substantial financial foundation of €2.4 billion, IHI represents one of Europe's largest public-private partnerships in the health sector. Funding is structured as a balanced investment, with €1.2 billion provided through the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation program, matched by €1 billion committed from industry partners. An additional €200 million allocation is available for organizations that join as Contributing Partners, further expanding the initiative's collaborative network. This robust funding structure enables IHI to support ambitious, large-scale projects that might otherwise struggle to secure adequate resources through traditional funding mechanisms.

IHI builds upon the considerable achievements of its predecessor, the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), which operated successfully from 2008 to 2021. While expanding its scope beyond pharmaceuticals to include medical technologies, digital health solutions, and biotechnology applications, IHI maintains continuity by having its Programme Office manage and promote the valuable project portfolio established under IMI. The initiative actively engages with the broader healthcare community through various channels, including its Twitter presence @IHIEurope, where stakeholders can follow developments, funding opportunities, and project outcomes. Through these combined efforts, IHI is positioned to address critical healthcare challenges while accelerating innovation across the European health sector.