Building on the success of the pilot applicant-driven call launched earlier this year, IHI plans to continue the pioneering approach for its next call for proposals. IHI call 12 is planned for launch in early 2026, and like IHI call 9, it will have a broad scope, structured around the five specific objectives of the IHI Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA). The call text is being finalised, and a draft version will be published on the IHI website in October.
Building on the success of the applicant-driven approach
IHI call 9 attracted 50 proposals covering all specific objectives of the SRIA and a wide range of health research challenges. The selected projects are now being finalised and should be launched in the coming months.
“The success of IHI call 9 confirms the strength of the applicant-driven approach as way of bringing fresh ideas and new partners into the IHI community,” said IHI Executive Director Niklas Blomberg. “I encourage everyone in the health research community to explore our SRIA and mine it for ideas for ambitious, public-private projects that could transform health research and care. In call 12, we’re looking forward to receiving novel proposals that will drive the implementation of IHI’s objectives and the EU Life Sciences Strategy.”
Proposals will have to adhere to the philosophy of IHI. In other words, they will have to:
- address an unmet public health need;
- require a large-scale, ambitious, cross-sector, public-private partnership;
- have clearly-described impacts on society, the economy and science;
- take account of the pre-competitive nature of IHI projects;
- contribute to strengthening the competitiveness or the EU’s health industries and the implementation of relevant EU policies.
From a practical point of view, IHI call 12 will be a standard, single-stage call for proposals. This means that applicants will have to ensure that half of their project’s costs are covered by in-kind contributions from IHI’s industry members and (if relevant) IHI contributing partners.
Sign up for the networking platform and Brokerage Event 2025
To help potential applicants share ideas and start building a consortium, IHI has set up an online networking platform and will hold a face-to-face brokerage event in Brussels on 4-5 November. In addition to extensive networking time, the event will feature pitches on project ideas and posters from organisations keen to participate in new projects.
Refresher: the IHI SRIA objectives
In their proposal, applicants will have to select the SRIA specific objective that their proposal falls under. Applicants should therefore study the SRIA carefully. Meanwhile, here is a reminder of the titles of the specific objectives in the SRIA:
- Improve our understanding of the factors that affect our health and the development and treatment of certain diseases.
- Integrate fragmented health research and innovation efforts by bringing together health industry sectors and other stakeholders. This will enable the development of tools, data, platforms, technologies and processes that will in turn facilitate the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of diseases, especially in areas where there is an unmet public health need.
- Demonstrate the feasibility of integrated healthcare solutions that draw on various technologies from different sectors and address the needs of the people who will use them, such as patients and healthcare professionals.
- Make better use of opportunities to gather health data and use it in research and care, all while respecting relevant privacy legislation.
- Develop ways of assessing the value of innovative, integrated health care solutions to patients, carers, healthcare professionals and organisations, and other stakeholders.
Note: Unless stated otherwise, all information regarding future IHI call topics is indicative and subject to change. Final information about future IHI calls is communicated after approval by the IHI Governing Board.