Policy: EIT Health and Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) Formalise Collaboration

EIT Health and IHI to create a platform that supports healthcare entrepreneurs, researchers, and healthcare professionals across Europe.

EIT Health and the Innovative Health Initiative Joint Undertaking (IHI JU) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalise their collaboration.

EIT Health is one of nine Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), an Institutionalised Partnership under Horizon Europe’s Pillar III – Innovative Europe. EIT Health’s mission is to drive healthcare innovation and create positive societal impact in Europe. The Innovative Health Initiative is a unique public-private partnership between the European Union and Europe’s life science industries. Its core goals are to translate health research and innovation into tangible benefits for patients and society.

The MoU signing marks a significant milestone in both the IHI JU and EIT Health’s commitment to supporting ground-breaking research and innovation that will improve healthcare and make Europe’s health ecosystem globally more competitive. Both organisations receive EU funding under Horizon Europe, and the MoU is in line with a wider drive to encourage EU programmes to build synergies with one another where relevant.

“The MoU marks the start of a new strategic relationship between our organisations and paves the way for exploring joint actions on shared objectives. I look forward to the potential opportunities this new collaboration will generate for our partners and the possibility of leveraging the societal impact we are responsible for.” said Jean-Marc Bourez, CEO of EIT Health.

“It’s clear that IHI and EIT Health have a lot in common. This MoU underscores our joint commitment to working together, so that we can benefit from each other’s strengths and exploit synergies wherever possible. This collaboration will benefit our projects and ensure that Europe remains at the cutting edge of interdisciplinary, sustainable, patient-centric health research.” said Dr Hugh Laverty, Executive Director ad interim of IHI JU.