IHI JU

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IHI SRIA (Version 3, 2024)

The IHI SRIA (Version 3, 2024) defines Europe’s path toward integrated, data-driven, and citizen-centred healthcare. It builds an ecosystem uniting pharmaceuticals, medical technologies, biotech, and digital tools within ethical, sustainable frameworks.

For OPENVERSE, IHI represents the healthcare anchor of the ecosystem—linking virtual worlds, digital twins, and AI-enabled simulations to real-world clinical research, citizen engagement, and trust-based data governance. Collaboration would allow OPENVERSE to test interoperability, ethics, and transparency principles in one of Europe’s most critical and regulated domains.

Basic Identification

• Initiative / Partnership Name: Innovative Health Initiative (IHI Joint Undertaking)
• Full SRIDA Title & Version: IHI Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), Version 3
• Publication / Last Update Date: 2024
• Governing Body / Association: IHI Joint Undertaking; partners include the European Commission, EFPIA (pharma), MedTech Europe, COCIR, Vaccines Europe, EuropaBio, and others.
• Type: Institutionalised European Partnership under Horizon Europe (Cluster 1: Health)
• Website / Source: ihi.europa.eu

Strategic Orientation

• Vision Statement:

“Deliver people-centred, integrated, and sustainable healthcare innovations through cross-sector collaboration, ensuring Europe’s health systems are prepared for future challenges.”

• Mission:

Build a European health innovation ecosystem that integrates medicines, medical technologies, diagnostics, digital tools, data, and services into coherent, equitable healthcare systems.

• Strategic Drivers:
  • Ageing population and rising chronic diseases.
  • Need for integrated care and prevention.
  • Acceleration of digital transformation and data reuse.
  • Demand for sustainability, trust, and resilience in health systems.
• Core Objectives (by 2030):
  1. Create an EU-wide health R&I ecosystem linking diverse sectors.
  2. Demonstrate at least five integrated health innovations ready for adoption.
  3. Drive cross-sectoral innovation to reinforce Europe’s global competitiveness.

• Policy Alignment:

Horizon Europe Cluster 1 (Health); European Health Data Space (EHDS); EU4Health; Digital Europe Programme; Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan; The European Green Deal; Artificial Intelligence Act.

Technological and Thematic Priorities

Pillar / Thematic Focus	Main Goals and Activities	Expected Impact
1. Understanding Determinants of Health	Investigate biological, genetic, behavioural, and environmental determinants; develop biomarkers and predictive models.	Improved early diagnosis, prevention, and outbreak preparedness.
2. Integrating Fragmented R&I Efforts	Connect pharma, MedTech, biotech, AI, robotics, and data-driven innovation.	Efficient, sustainable innovation pipelines across sectors.
3. People-Centred Integrated Solutions	Co-create innovations with citizens and patients; deploy tools for self-management and prevention.	Increased patient engagement and inclusivity.
4. Digitalisation and Data Exchange	Build interoperable, FAIR-compliant, and secure data systems using EHDS frameworks.	Cross-border health data access and AI-driven evidence generation.
5. Evaluating Added Value of Innovation	Create new health technology assessment (HTA) and evidence frameworks.	Faster market entry and better-informed healthcare decisions.

• Cross-cutting Themes: ethics, sustainability, data protection, green healthcare, open innovation, and skills development.
• Synergies: AI, Data & Robotics (ADRA); EuroHPC; EOSC; EIT Health; THCS (Transforming Health and Care Systems); and HERA.

Governance and Ecosystem

• Leading Organisations:

IHI JU Governing Board (EC + Industry Partners).

• Stakeholder Groups:

Academia, healthcare providers, patient associations, SMEs, research infrastructures, regulatory bodies, payers, and public health agencies.

• Engagement Mechanisms:
  • Annual calls for proposals (Research and Innovation Actions, Coordination and Support Actions).
  • Multi-actor partnerships and public consultations.
  • Stakeholder forums and project clusters for dissemination.
• Update Frequency: Every 2–3 years (SRIA v1 in 2021, v3 in 2024).
• Contact / Participation Info: Via IHI portal (open calls, partner search, stakeholder registry).

Building-Block Crosswalk (Staff Working Document Alignment)

EC Building Block	IHI Implementation
AI and Data Spaces	Health data reuse through EHDS, federated AI for diagnostics and research.
Cloud–Edge–HPC Continuum	Collaboration with EuroHPC for health simulations and predictive models.
Digital Twins and Simulation	Digital twins of patients and diseases for testing interventions.
Cybersecurity and Trust	Secure-by-design infrastructures, patient privacy, and ethical frameworks.
Digital Identity and Access Management	Integration with eID and EHDS authentication frameworks.
AI and Robotics Integration	Clinical decision support, rehabilitation robots, and care automation.
Sustainability and Green Healthcare	Eco-design for devices and data infrastructures.
Skills and Capacity Building	Training in digital health, AI, and regulatory readiness.

Alignment with OPENVERSE

Relevance:

IHI embodies the healthcare and wellbeing dimension of the European innovation ecosystem. Its federated, AI-driven, and ethically governed framework aligns directly with OPENVERSE’s objectives of interoperability, trust, and responsible innovation.

SRIDA Document Metadata

• Keywords / Tags: Health innovation, integrated care, AI, data spaces, digital health, interoperability, sustainability, ethics, co-creation.
• Referenced Horizon Europe Cluster: Cluster 1 (Health).
• TRL Range: TRL 3–8 (from applied research to validation in clinical settings).
• Investment / Budget: €2.4 billion total (EU + industry + contributing partners).
• Policy References: EHDS; EU4Health; Artificial Intelligence Act; The European Green Deal; Pharmaceutical Strategy; Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.