Cooperation will encourage the development of innovative medicines and health solutions for patients
NewsHumanCorporate
EMA and the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) have strengthened their cooperation in support of health innovation in the European Union (EU). Today, EMA’s Executive Director Emer Cooke and EISMEA’s Director Momchil Sabev signed a letter of intent to reinforce their continuing efforts in helping innovators better understand EU regulatory requirements and prepare health technologies for successful development.
EISMEA, which manages the European Innovation Council (EIC), and EMA have been working together since 2021 to support innovation in the life sciences and health sectors. Their future joint activities will further help innovators and entrepreneurs translate cutting-edge research into safe and effective health solutions for EU citizens and patients. The reinforced commitment is complemented by a rolling work programme for 2026–2027 that translates common objectives into concrete actions.
The cooperation aims to empower innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), disruptive start-ups, spin-offs, research organisations and universities through training, awareness-raising, outreach and support services. This work helps to accelerate innovation in the EU biopharmaceutical and medtech sectors, contributing to competitiveness and economic growth.
EMA and EISMEA will continue to work together on horizon scanning and regulatory readiness for new and disruptive health innovations. They will support EIC-funded projects and the broader research community by providing advice and guidance. They will also collaborate on training, education and stakeholder engagement activities to improve the understanding of the regulatory framework for medicines and healthcare technologies developed by EIC-funded innovators.
The impact of this cooperation is already visible - an EMA-EIC feedback survey revealed that three quarters of EIC-funded innovators saw their level of awareness of EMA’s support tools increase thanks to joint EMA-EIC training activities. EMA support tools were viewed as having a positive impact on both product development and regulatory strategy and 95% of the respondents would use them again for future projects.
Excerpt from the official page. The original is authoritative.