[EU] Innovative Health Initiative Call 13 opens in summer 2026

The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) is preparing to launch forthcoming calls addressing key challenges in health research and innovation. These topics will support the development of an AI-based foundation toxicology model and framework to enable the potential waiving of a second species in non-clinical drug safety studies, as well as research to better understand the immunological mechanisms underlying age-related diseases.

• An AI foundation toxicology model and framework to support waiving a second species in drug safety studies
• Decode the immuno-science of age-related mediated diseases
• IHI European healthcare incubator network

The calls will follow IHI’s two-stage submission and evaluation process and will be implemented through a public–private partnership model, bringing together industry, academia, SMEs, healthcare stakeholders and patients. The supported actions are pre-competitive in nature, focusing on the development of shared tools, data and knowledge that can underpin future research and innovation across the health ecosystem.

As these topics are still under consultation, they may change significantly before the call launch. Applicants should refer to the final, approved topic texts once published. More information is available on the IHI dedicated webpage.

IHI will host information sessions at the time of the launch, covering both the topics and the relevant rules and procedures.

Call to Action – Preparing for IHI Call 12

1. Engage with the EU-team early on: clarify eligibility, in-kind contributions, and administrative requirements. It’s not your typical EU research proposal architecture!
2. Start building your consortium  (start soon): reach out to academic, clinical, SME, and industry partners across sectors.
3. Draft concept notes: start shaping project ideas and align them with the IHI Strategic Research Agenda.
4. Leverage networking opportunities:

• Join the IHI brokerage event: Date still to be announced

 Call opening: summer of 2026 

Submission deadline: anticipated mid of October 2026 for the first stage applications

Financing specifics

• For academic/clinical partners full reimbursement of the action tasks. However, you need to team up with IHI Industry and Contributing Partners who need to cover 50 % of the total project budget (most often by in-kind contributions).

More information and contact

• IHI call 13 pre-launch website
• Contact the EU-Team for more information and to get support
• Contact the EU-Team Account Manager for cluster Health - Evi Lippens for content advice

 

May 5, 2026, 3:19 p.m.