1. Promoting innovation and improving the transfer of knowledge

1. Promoting innovation and improving the transfer of knowledge

We need a reliable framework environment in Europe that both promotes and protects innovation. Small, medium-sized and large business enterprises require sufficient planning security with regard to the regulatory setting before they invest in developing new active agents and products.

Against the background of increasing international competition, the EU should create a coherent legal framework in order to dismantle obstacles to innovation. It is necessary to support a speedy conversion of peak scientific achievements into their economic exploitation and industrial competitiveness.

That is why Europe needs a coordinated strategy to create structures that support the corporate environment in developing sustainable innovations and the digital change in the health sector and facilitate both the founding of startups as well as the growth of existing enterprises. At the same time, there is a need for coherent legislation in the strictly regulated area of health. What is urgently required is close cooperation between the EU member states and for uniform standards to be set that are globally competitive. Only by acting jointly can Europe continue in the future to remain globally competitive.

Any effective implementation of innovations in medicines, therapies and medical products requires the legally regulated reliability of market access mechanisms (see 1.), the transfer of knowledge between academic and industrial health research (see 1.1.), a balanced system of promotion measures (see 1.2.) along with the protection of intellectual property (see 2.3.).

In addition, we recommend the implementation in full of the innovation principle throughout the whole policy cycle, from evaluation to implementation, of all European provisions that have an effect on the health industry. An important step on the road to achieving this goal is the inclusion of a regular assessment of the impact of European regulations on innovative capacity within the revised impact assessment procedure of the European Commission, including the implementation of legal provisions and delegated legal acts.

Central recommendations:

▪ Europe needs a coordinated strategy and coherent legislation in the strictly regulated health field in order to create structures that support the business sector in developing sustainable innovations and dealing with the digital change in the health industry.