Brussels launches new health funding wave: European projects worth up to €10 million to transform healthcare systems

The European Union has opened a new funding opportunity for high-impact healthcare projects under the framework of Horizon Europe. The call, launched by the European Commission and managed by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), is part of Cluster 1 – Health within the 2026–2027 work programme and will support international research consortia with project budgets reaching up to €10 million.

The deadline for submitting proposals is 16 April 2026, and the calls follow a single-stage evaluation process, meaning that consortia must submit a full proposal directly for assessment.

The initiative aims to accelerate medical innovation, improve the efficiency of European healthcare systems, and support the development of technologies that enable more personalized, sustainable, and accessible care.

Europe pushes healthcare transformation through innovation

The new calls form part of the EU’s broader strategy to strengthen the resilience and performance of healthcare systems across the continent. The program encourages projects that combine research, digital technologies, and new care models.

Proposals must be submitted by international consortia involving organizations from multiple European countries. Participants can include universities, hospitals, research centers, technology companies, public authorities, and civil society organizations.

Among the topics included in this funding round, two stand out as particularly strategic for the future of healthcare in Europe.

Public procurement as a driver of innovation

One of the key initiatives is CARE-01, which promotes the use of public procurement as a catalyst for healthcare innovation. Instead of simply purchasing existing products or services, healthcare systems are encouraged to design procurement processes that stimulate the development of new solutions.

Through this approach, hospitals and public health authorities can define specific clinical or operational needs—such as digital health tools, diagnostic technologies, or hospital management systems—and collaborate with innovative companies to develop solutions tailored to those challenges.

The goal is to shorten the distance between research, technological development, and real-world implementation in healthcare systems.

Tackling the challenge of low-value care

Another major topic is CARE-03, which focuses on identifying and reducing low-value care—medical procedures, tests, or treatments that provide limited clinical benefit.

Low-value care represents a growing concern in modern healthcare systems. Studies suggest that a considerable portion of healthcare spending may be directed toward diagnostics or treatments that deliver minimal benefit to patients.

Projects funded under this topic will develop tools and methodologies to detect such practices, assess their economic and clinical impact, and redesign care pathways to prioritize interventions that deliver stronger outcomes for patients.

Large-scale European collaboration

To be eligible for funding, proposals must be submitted by international consortia composed of at least three independent legal entities from three different countries participating in Horizon Europe.

Typical consortia combine a range of stakeholders, including:

• hospitals and regional health systems

• universities and research institutions

• technology and biotech companies

• public authorities

• patient organizations

Project budgets typically range from €3 million to €10 million, depending on the specific topic.

A strategic push for the future of healthcare

According to the European Commission, these initiatives are designed to support a structural evolution in healthcare across Europe. By combining data-driven approaches, advanced technologies, and value-based healthcare models, the EU aims to accelerate the modernization of health systems.

With aging populations and growing pressure on healthcare budgets, the new calls seek to encourage solutions that improve efficiency, expand access to care, and bring innovation more quickly from research laboratories into hospitals and clinical practice.

Through this funding round, Europe signals a new phase in health innovation policy—one built on cross-border collaboration, technological progress, and patient-centered healthcare systems.