EIT Health

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EIT Health Strategic Agenda 2021–2027

The EIT Health Strategic Agenda 2021–2027 outlines Europe’s approach to health innovation through a collaborative, decentralised network model bridging research, business, and education. Its impact framework targets both system-level sustainability and citizen wellbeing, measured by innovation outputs, training reach, and investment attraction.

For OPENVERSE, EIT Health is the healthcare anchor of the SRIDA landscape — providing testbeds, ethical frameworks, and use cases for XR, AI, and data-space-driven virtual healthcare ecosystems. Collaboration can integrate OPENVERSE’s digital twin and trust-building capabilities to amplify impact in Europe’s health innovation agendas.

Basic Identification

Initiative / Partnership Name: European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) – EIT Health

Full SRIDA Title & Version: EIT Health Strategic Agenda – A Synopsis 2021–2027

Publication / Last Update Date: 2021

Governing Body / Association: EIT Health e.V. and CLCs (Regional Innovation Hubs) under the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

Type: EIT Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC)

Website / Source: 1146933-EITH-Strategic-Agenda-External-Version-V8_BOB-1.pdf

Strategic Orientation

Vision Statement

“To enable people to live longer, healthier lives by strengthening sustainable health systems and fostering a competitive health economy.”

Mission

To unite Europe’s best-in-class organisations across education, research, industry, and healthcare delivery into a collaborative network that accelerates innovation, supports entrepreneurs, and improves access to high-quality care.

Core Goals

1. Better Health for All – Improve health outcomes and quality of life.
2. Sustainable Health Systems – Increase efficiency, reduce waste, and improve access.
3. Competitive Health Economy – Boost investment, create jobs, and strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity.

Societal Drivers

Address the challenges of ageing populations, chronic disease, and fragmented healthcare delivery—all intensified by post-COVID systemic strain.

Policy Alignment

• SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being) and SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth);
• Horizon Europe Cluster 1;
• NextGenerationEU recovery objectives.

Technological & Thematic Priorities

Domain	Focus	Examples / Context
AI and Data Analytics	Predictive diagnostics, triage systems, resource optimisation	“AI can analyse data to help diagnose, triage, and organise care”
Digital Health Infrastructure	Integrated patient pathways, interoperability, and data exchange	Tackling fragmentation across healthcare systems
Education & Skills	30,000 change-agents trained via degree and non-degree programmes	Digital literacy and transformation leadership
Entrepreneurship & Start-ups	€1.3B investment to scale-ups; 894 start-ups supported by 2027	Innovation Factory and Venture Centre of Excellence (VCoE)
Sustainability & Inclusion	Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) and gender equality	At least 15% of impact returns to RIS regions
Telemedicine & Remote Care	Pandemic resilience and access equity	Lessons from COVID-19 coordination gaps

KPI Highlights (2021–2027)

• 129 innovations tested; 894 start-ups supported.
• €1.3B external investment attracted.
• 30,730 non-degree learners; 1,010 graduates from labelled MSc/PhD programmes.
• Financial sustainability target by 2027.

Governance & Ecosystem

Structure: Central HQ in Munich + seven Regional Innovation Hubs (InnoStars, RIS). Network Composition: >600 partners from academia, industry, research, and healthcare providers. Engagement Mechanisms:

• Knowledge Triangle Integration: Business ↔ Research ↔ Education synergy.
• Regional Inclusion: RIS hubs in Central and Southern Europe extend outreach and adoption.
• Stakeholder Co-Creation: Early involvement of citizens, regulators, and clinicians in innovation cycles.

• Financial Model: Gradual move toward self-sustainability through membership fees, service revenues, and equity returns by 2027.

Building-Block Crosswalk (Staff Working Document Alignment)

EC Technical Building Block	EIT Health Implementation
AI & Data Spaces	AI-assisted diagnosis, digital twins for health, data federation
Digital Identity & Trust	Patient data governance and ethics frameworks
XR & Immersive Systems	Remote rehabilitation, medical training simulations
Cloud–Edge–HPC Continuum	Regional and hospital-based edge systems for analytics
Cybersecurity & Ethics	Patient data protection, ethics boards
Education & Skills	Health innovation leadership, AI literacy
Digital Twins & Simulation	Predictive and preventative health system modelling

Alignment with Virtual Worlds

Relevance to Virtual Worlds Domains

• XR/Virtual Worlds: EIT Health’s emphasis on simulation, telepresence, and digital literacy creates a bridge for virtual-world training environments and immersive healthcare design.
• Data Trust & AI: Shared focus on ethics, privacy, and trust in AI-driven healthcare systems strengthens OPENVERSE’s “trustworthy infrastructure” mission.
• Interoperability: EIT Health’s data-space-compatible model aligns with cross-sector integration of health, industry, and citizen data.

SRIDA Document Metadata

Keywords / Tags: Health innovation, ageing, sustainability, AI, digital health, entrepreneurship, education, interoperability.

Referenced Horizon Europe Cluster: Cluster 1 — Health.

TRL Range: 6–9 (tested and market-ready innovations).

Investment / KPIs: €1.3B attracted, 894 start-ups, 30k trained individuals.

Policy References:

• SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being) and SDG 8 (Decent Work & Economic Growth);
• Horizon Europe Cluster 1;
• NextGenerationEU;
• Data Governance Act;
• Artificial Intelligence Act.