Deadline: 21-Apr-26
The European Commission’s digital health research program funds projects that use digitalisation, data exchange, AI, and advanced analytics to improve healthcare delivery, patient outcomes, and integrated health solutions. The program offers funding from €8 million to €43.3 million per project, supporting public-private consortia addressing unmet health needs while fostering EU technological leadership.
Overview
The European Commission is inviting applications for funding to support research and innovation in digital health. The program aims to leverage digitalisation, interoperable data, and AI to enhance healthcare systems, improve patient outcomes, and develop integrated solutions across Europe.
The initiative contributes to the EU Life Sciences Strategy, strengthens the competitiveness of the European health industry, and accelerates technological leadership and digital transformation in healthcare.
Key Focus Areas
Funded projects should address one or more of the following areas:
- Interoperable, high-quality data: Adoption of FAIR principles to facilitate research and integrated healthcare solutions
- Digital health technologies: M-health and e-health tools to understand patient behavior, monitor outcomes, and reduce barriers to care
- Advanced analytics and AI: Tools for clinical decision support, personalized health interventions, reduced bias, and accelerated times to market
- Healthcare system transformation: Solutions that prevent, intercept, diagnose, treat, and manage diseases efficiently
- Industrial competitiveness: Strengthening EU healthcare industry and promoting breakthrough innovations
Eligibility
- Open to all legal entities, including companies, universities, research centres, hospitals, and international organizations
- Entities from non-associated third countries can participate if compliant with Horizon Europe regulations
- Applicants must be capable of forming collaborative public-private consortia
- Proposals must address unmet public health needs and demonstrate a pathway to implementable solutions
Funding Details
- Total program budget: €43,300,000
- Individual project funding: €8,000,000 – €43,300,000
- Funding scheme: Single-stage Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
- Supports pre-competitive research, novel tools, methods, and technologies
How to Apply
- Form a consortium: Include relevant stakeholders from public and private sectors
- Define project scope: Focus on unmet health needs with clear disease burden, economic impact, or transformational potential
- Conduct landscape analysis: Ensure no duplication and identify synergies with existing initiatives
- Prepare proposal: Highlight digitalisation, AI integration, and data exchange strategies
- Submit under Horizon Europe guidelines: Comply with all eligibility and documentation requirements
Why It Matters
- Accelerates the digital transformation of healthcare
- Enables personalized, evidence-based patient care
- Reduces time to market for innovative health technologies
- Supports EU’s Life Sciences Strategy and global competitiveness
- Promotes collaboration across public and private sectors
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to form a strong public-private consortium
- Ignoring FAIR data principles or digital interoperability requirements
- Not addressing unmet healthcare needs or public health impact
- Overlooking synergies with existing projects
- Missing Horizon Europe eligibility or submission rules
FAQ
1. Who can apply?
Legal entities including universities, research centres, hospitals, private companies, and international organizations meeting Horizon Europe regulations.
2. Are non-EU entities eligible?
Yes, entities from non-associated third countries may participate if they comply with Horizon Europe rules.
3. What is the funding range?
€8,000,000 to €43,300,000 per project under a single-stage Research and Innovation Action.
4. What types of projects are eligible?
Projects must focus on digital health, interoperable data, AI, advanced analytics, and integrated healthcare solutions.
5. Must projects form consortia?
Yes, collaborative public-private partnerships are required to address complex healthcare challenges.
6. What are the key priorities for proposals?
- Use of FAIR data principles
- Understanding patient behavior and real-life healthcare challenges
- AI and advanced analytics for clinical decision support
- Demonstrating value, efficiency, and reduced bias
7. How to ensure proposal competitiveness?
Include a landscape analysis, focus on unmet health needs, ensure implementation feasibility, and highlight EU industry competitiveness.
Conclusion
This European Commission funding call supports high-impact, collaborative research in digital health, enabling AI-driven, data-enabled solutions that improve patient outcomes, strengthen healthcare systems, and advance European technological leadership. Eligible consortia can access funding from €8 million to €43.3 million to develop innovative, scalable, and integrated healthcare solutions.
For more information, visit European Commission.
