MedTech Europe Responds to European Commission Call for Evidence on Joint Undertakings
MedTech Europe has published its response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence on European Partnerships to be implemented as Joint Undertakings.
The response addresses the future framework for Joint Undertakings under the next Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034 and focuses on the role of European Partnerships in supporting research, innovation and competitiveness in the health sector.
According to MedTech Europe, Treaty-based European Partnerships are an important part of the EU research and innovation ecosystem, enabling collaboration between industry, academia, public entities, Member States and EU institutions.
Importance of the Innovative Health Initiative
MedTech Europe highlights the value of the current framework under Horizon Europe and the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI).
The association states that IHI has successfully brought together a broad health ecosystem, including medical devices, in vitro diagnostics, digital health, pharmaceuticals, vaccines and biotechnology.
MedTech Europe also notes that IHI has enabled collaboration across sectors and has helped integrate the medical technology sector into European health partnerships.
Key Messages from MedTech Europe
In its response, MedTech Europe argues that future reforms should build on what already works well in IHI, while strengthening links between research and deployment.
The association highlights several priorities, including:
preserving the value of IHI as a collaborative public-private partnership;
maintaining in-kind contributions as the core model of industry participation;
avoiding mandatory cash contributions;
ensuring agile governance that reflects co-investment commitments;
strengthening links to deployment and downstream financing instruments;
giving Member States a stronger operational role where they co-invest and support deployment;
ensuring timely and structured co-creation with industry.
Simplification, Flexibility and Governance
MedTech Europe supports efforts to make future Joint Undertakings more efficient, accessible and agile.
The response calls for simpler governance structures, faster decision-making, shorter time-to-grant and more flexible programming. It also stresses that reforms should be evidence-based and should not replace existing ecosystems, expertise and investments without clear justification.
According to MedTech Europe, governance should reflect the level and nature of partners’ commitments, including financial resources, in-kind assets, infrastructure, data and implementation capacity.
Funding Model and In-Kind Contributions
A central point in the response is the importance of in-kind contributions.
MedTech Europe states that industry already contributes substantial resources and strategic capabilities, including expertise, infrastructure, datasets, technologies, development platforms, clinical networks and regulatory know-how.
The association warns that mandatory cash contributions could reduce participation, limit flexibility and weaken the distinctive value of Joint Undertakings as collaborative co-investment models.
Deployment and Health Innovation
MedTech Europe calls for stronger links between collaborative research and real-world deployment.
The response notes that future partnerships should support activities closer to deployment, including demonstration, clinical validation, regulatory science and real-world evidence generation.
It also highlights the importance of connecting project outcomes with downstream instruments such as the European Competitiveness Fund, InvestEU and European Investment Bank mechanisms.
Impact on Medical Device and IVD Manufacturers
For medical device, IVD and digital health manufacturers, the response is relevant because future European Partnerships may shape funding, collaboration and innovation pathways in the health sector.
Manufacturers should pay particular attention to:
opportunities for participation in future health partnerships;
the role of IHI and future Joint Undertakings in medical technology innovation;
recognition of in-kind contributions such as data, expertise and infrastructure;
potential links between research projects, regulatory science and deployment;
opportunities for clinical validation and real-world evidence generation;
simplified participation rules for SMEs and new entrants;
governance and IP rules that may affect industry participation;
future links with European competitiveness and investment instruments.
For manufacturers, MedTech Europe’s response reinforces the importance of maintaining a dedicated health partnership with a strong medical technology dimension, able to support innovation from research through validation, evidence generation and eventual deployment.
