WG Emerging Technologies for Healthcare

EARTO WG Emerging Technologies for Healthcare is composed of 100 active experts. The WG is looking at promoting & defending the interests of RTOs in the health related funding schemes in Europe, in order to ensure that EU R&I programmes are best attuned to RTOs interests and the needs of the healthcare. The WG is also working towards reinforcing RTOs profile as key players and promoting their specific and unique technology.

Key Topics for 2026

  • Input to Horizon Europe Partnership on Health & Clusters looking at health-related topics
  • Role of Medtech RTOs in Horizon Europe, including Partnership (IHI) & JUs
  • Monitor the EU4Health programme
  • Open innovation: OITB, ecosystem for developing and commercialising of health technologies
Cooperation with EC DGs & other Stakeholders

  • European Commission (DG R&I, DG GROW, DG REGIO, DG SANTE, DG CONNECT)
  • MedTech Europe
  • EFPIA
  • COCIR
  • Vanguard Initiative

Latest Papers Published

14 / 07 / 2026

EARTO Position Paper on Accelerating AI Adoption in Healthcare through European SMEs

The EARTO position paper examines the structural barriers that continue to hinder AI deployment and outlines seven policy recommendations to support the validation, implementation and scaling of AI-enabled healthcare solutions across Europe.

6 / 02 / 2026

EARTO Position Paper on R&I in Rehabilitation as Integral Component of Disease-Related Research Programmes

EARTO WG Healthcare Experts identify the need for a stronger focus on rehabilitation technologies in EU policy frameworks and propose six recommendations to advance rehabilitation research, development, and innovation in Europe.

6 / 02 / 2026

EARTO Report on R&I in Rehabilitation - Accompanying Technical Report

EARTO WG Healthcare Special Interest Group Working Document accompanying EARTO Position Paper on Research and Innovation in Rehabilitation as Integral Component of Disease-Related Research Programmes.

6 / 12 / 2024

EARTO Input on Health Research and Innovation for the next European Framework Programme (FP10)

For over thirty years, the European Framework Programmes for Research, Development and Innovation
(RD&I) have been essential to Europe’s efforts in tackling challenges through excellence in RD&I, promoting collaborative research, and supporting the translation of R&I for commercialisation and new business. Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs) play a critical role in strengthening an end-to-end innovation chain, by bridging the innovation gap between frontier research and market-driven
innovation of new products.

18 / 07 / 2024

EARTO Position Paper on Advanced Materials for Healthcare

Following the European Commission (EC) Communication on Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership and this week launch of the IAM-I, the international non-profit Association that will operate the upcoming European co-programmed partnership on Innovative Advanced Materials for Europe (IAM4EU), EARTO would like to provide further inputs for the upcoming Strategic Research Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of this new European partnership.

21 / 02 / 2023

EARTO Inputs on Healthcare Research and Innovation for the next Strategic Plan of Horizon Europe (2025-2027)

In view of the preparation of the Horizon Europe next Strategic Plan 2025-2027, the EARTO Working Group Healthcare hereby presents 5 recommendations to further boost current EU healthcare programmes. Those recommendations are based on the analysis by our healthcare experts of the limitations and gaps experienced through their active participation in those EU programmes.