The European Commission has sanctioned €403m in funding to support the Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) aimed at advancing innovation in medical devices.
This initiative, termed ‘IPCEI Tech4Cure’, will focus on integrating digital and AI features into medical devices to enhance research, innovation, and the initial industrial deployment of these technologies.
This project was collectively proposed by five EU Member States- France, Hungary, Italy, Slovakia, and Slovenia. These nations will provide the funding, which is projected to attract an additional €826m from private investors.
European Commission Clean, Just and Competitive Transition executive vice-president Teresa Ribera said: “Tech4Cure will make healthcare better, faster, and cheaper. The truly innovative projects in this IPCEI will improve patient outcomes, cut healthcare costs, and enhance EU citizens’ lives.”
Ten companies, including six small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), will engage in research and development as part of this IPCEI. Tech4Cure’s primary objective is to develop medical devices incorporating advanced digital and AI solutions, which will further the concept of predictive, preventive, and personalised medicine (3P medicine).
The 3P medicine approach aims to improve patient outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and enhance the quality of life for EU citizens. Tech4Cure will also contribute to the EU’s updated Industrial Strategy by promoting industrial resilience, reinforcing the Single Market, and supporting green and digital transitions through advanced medical technologies.
The completion of Tech4Cure is anticipated by 2036, with timelines varying based on individual projects and companies. Participating Member States expect the projects to create approximately 800 jobs. The IPCEI encompasses ten projects involving 70 planned collaborations within the broader IPCEI ecosystem.
The companies and projects were selected based on criteria such as their contribution to EU objectives, ambitious research and innovation goals, and potential to address market failures and generate positive spillover effects.
The wider IPCEI Tech4Cure ecosystem includes 18 associated partners from France, Hungary, Latvia, and Slovenia, along with approximately 45 indirect partners, including companies and research organisations, expected to benefit from the EU medical devices ecosystem.
The Commission played a critical role in the design phase of the IPCEI, offering technical and scientific expertise and guidance. To facilitate SME participation, the Commission provided simplified templates and organised feedback sessions, leading to 60% SME involvement in Tech4Cure.
In March 2022, 16 Member States expressed support for two health-related IPCEIs, including the first, IPCEI Med4Cure, focusing on pharmaceutical innovation, and the second, IPCEI Tech4Cure, dedicated to medical devices. Today’s decision marks the eleventh integrated IPCEI approved under EU State aid rules.
