The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) builds on the successes of the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI). It is a European public-private partnership dedicated to promoting health research and innovation, but operates in a wider range of areas, with new partners and an updated governance structure.
IMI started in 2008 as a public-private partnership (PPP) between the European Union and the European pharmaceutical industry.
The initiative was successful and the IMI2 programme was launched in 2014.
The IMI1 and IMI2 programmes have resulted in almost 200 projects covering a wide range of disease areas and addressing challenges in all areas of medical research and drug development. The IMI projects have yielded impressive results that amply demonstrate the value of a PPP that brings together all stakeholders: universities, large and small companies, patients, regulators, and others.
Due to the growing importance of cross-sectoral cooperation, the European Commission decided to launch a new PPP in the health sector. In February 2021, it presented a proposal for the creation of the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI). The proposal was formally approved by the Council of the European Union, representing the EU Member States, in November 2021.
IHI’s vision is still to ensure that Europe remains at the forefront of interdisciplinary, sustainable, and patient-centred healthcare research and innovation. The main objective is to translate healthcare research and innovation into real benefits for patients and societies.
