Patricia Clarke

National Delegate for Horizon Europe Cluster 1 - Health

Health Research Board

   

Joining the dots for greater value

  

As of 2024, Ireland is actively participating in 83 collaborative health research projects under Horizon Europe, having secured over €84m in EU funding across all six Health destinations, ranging from ‘staying healthy’ to ‘competitive health industries’.  This funding matches the total achieved during the previous Framework programme, where Irish health researchers received €84m in funding for 111 projects under Horizon 2020 (2014-2020).

   

Dr Patricia Clarke, National Delegate for Horizon Health, reflects on the evolving landscape and its implications for Ireland, highlighting the increasing complexity of delivering on the EU agenda.  

  

The external environment has changed significantly since the Health Research Board (HRB) and Enterprise Ireland (EI) began supporting Irish health researchers in collaborative European R&I initiatives.  The COVID-19 pandemic tested the resilience of the European health systems leading to the establishment of a European Health Union aimed at bolstering national public health efforts. Horizon Europe’s strategic programming seeks to synergise and integrate agendas across EU funding initiatives, and introducing an expanded array of EU instruments.  Each EU programme has its Unique Selling Points (USPs), yet they are now expected to interconnect, allowing a health topic to align with multiple specific EU programmes based on its stage and focus.

    

At the EU Commission level, new coordination mechanisms have been implemented to enhance collaboration across Directorates.  Notably, the Health Programme Committee is now co-chaired by four Directorates (DG RTD, DG CONNECT, DG Sante and DG HERA).  Emerging EU Partnership structures that integrate research and policy objectives require greater Irish investments in preparation and in long-term co-funded commitments (7-10 years).  Additionally, existing Member States-led Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs) are maturing, providing researchers with opportunities for collaborative projects at the EU level. 

  

As EU mechanisms evolve, Ireland must adapt its approach to work more effectively with EU partners.  Key changes in Irish participation in Horizon Europe compared to earlier Framework Programmes include:

  

·        A significant increase in the number and diversity of applications from Irish health researchers, with over 1,500 submissions in Horizon Europe health to date, compared to 1,100 in Horizon 2020 and 490 in FP7.

        

·        A continued desire to lead EU health research projects, with 112 coordinator applications in Horizon Europe to date, versus 168 in Horizon 2020, and 69 in FP7.  Ireland is currently leading 11 successful EU health projects, compared to 14 in Horizon 2020.

      

  

·        Within Europe, we are serving a growing need for national teams that integrate research and policy, bridging public and private sectors, regulators, patient groups and public.  Increased competition and collaboration opportunities at the EU level are also evident.  

  

·        The HRB and EI are playing pivotal roles in developing EU Partnerships, alongside traditional funding activities.  This new framework for programme level collaboration represents the next generation of funding support, based on shared Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas amongst all partners.  

  

 

Research progresses incrementally, and its impact often takes a long time to materialise.  However, our measures of success have typically focused on EU Frameworks Programmes or annual returns from calls within work programmes.

  

Recently, the EU published a booklet commemorating 40 years since the launch of its first funding programme dedicated to research and innovation.

       

This booklet presents 40 symbolic stories that illustrate the breadth of R&I made possible through EU funding, highlighting achievement in health such

as 3D printing models, vaccine developments, psychological approaches to pain management, insights into breast cancer prediction and prevention, mathematical models of the eye lens growth, mobile brain/body imaging (MoBI) technology and mRNA technology. 

  

 

As we prepare for FP10, the next Framework Programme, it is essential to reflect on the long-term value of EU funding for health research.  We should consider how these opportunities can be maximised at a national level, and how our support structure can provide added value and a competitive edge in this evolving landscape. 

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