EIT Health Annual Report 2024 - EIT Health

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EIT Health Annual Report 2024

Foreword

 

2024 was a year of real-world impact. Across Europe, health systems continued to face growing pressures: ageing populations, the rise of chronic diseases, workforce and skillset shortages, and the urgent need to harness digital and data-driven solutions safely. Against this backdrop, EIT Health rose to the challenge, proving that Europe’s innovation model can deliver change where it is most needed. Across the EIT Health network, our members delivered meaningful outcomes; patients received life-changing solutions, entrepreneurs scaled bold ideas into global businesses, learners gained the skills to lead transformative change practices, and policymakers found a trusted partner in supporting the shaping of more resilient health systems.

What sets EIT Health apart is not only what we achieve, but how. By bringing together the full “knowledge triangle” – the intersection between business, research, and education, alongside healthcare delivery, we create pan-European consortia that combine creativity with interdisciplinary capability. This integration is our unique strength. It ensures innovations are not developed in isolation but designed hand-in-hand with the expertise, evidence, and pathways needed to reach the market and, ultimately, to the patients who need them.

I am deeply proud of the milestones reached in 2024. 12 new innovations launched, more than 283,000 patients reached, €227M in investment raised for start-ups, and over 6,000 learners trained. But behind every figure lies something greater; the cardiac patient whose life was safeguarded, the cancer patient who could face treatment with dignity, the young professional empowered to bring change to their community. These are the stories of opportunities created, and hope renewed through the life-changing healthcare innovations developed and made available to the people of Europe

As we look ahead to 2025 and 2026, and the next European framework programme (FP10), our commitment is unwavering. To champion innovation as a driver of progress, prosperity, competitiveness, sustainability, and wellbeing for all. Together, we will continue to demonstrate that Europe has the talent, the ambition, and the commitment to shape the future of healthcare for every citizen, in every region.

— Céline Carrera, Interim Chief Executive Officer, EIT Health

Introduction

In 2024, EIT Health demonstrated that innovation is not just an aspiration, it is a lifeline for Europe’s healthcare systems. Facing ageing populations, rising chronic diseases, and stretched resources, our network translated ideas into tangible, life-changing outcomes.

Over the past year, we launched 12 new healthcare innovations, reaching more than 283,000 patients and citizens. We supported 372 start-ups and scale-ups, who collectively raised €227M in investment, proving that Europe’s entrepreneurs can scale and compete globally. Meanwhile, more than 6,000 learners acquired the skills to lead transformation across the health sector.

Since 2016, EIT Health has continued to strengthen its impact, accelerating innovation, fostering entrepreneurial growth, and developing the talent and expertise needed to shape healthcare systems that are fully fit for the opportunities and challenges of the future. These outcomes are the direct result of our distinctive approach. Forming cross-border, cross-sector consortia that bring together experts across the entire healthcare value chain – researchers, clinicians, entrepreneurs, educators, patients and citizens, and industry leaders in true collaboration and partnership. By enabling transfer of knowledge, combining expertise and pooling resources across the full “knowledge triangle,” we ensure solutions are designed and developed with the expertise, evidence, and pathways required to ultimately benefit and improve outcomes for patients safely and effectively.

Behind every milestone are individual stories of impact:

  • A cardiac patient treated safely within minutes through Corify Care’s ACORYS®, enabling clinicians to pinpoint sources of arrhythmia quickly without the risks of invasive procedures
  • A young woman maintaining her dignity during chemotherapy, thanks to Luminate Medical, which uses advanced compression technology to help protect hair follicles during treatment.
  • A person with diabetes gaining confidence and control through Vitadio’s digital therapy app, combining AI-supported coaching and clinical oversight to improve daily disease management.

These examples highlight the power of collaboration – when Europe’s leading minds work together, promising and bold ideas are translated into trusted solutions that deliver tangible benefits for patients and citizens.

EIT Health community in action in 2024

  • 12 innovations launched in 2024
  • 372 start-ups supported, €227M raised
  • 283,000+ patients and citizens reached
  • 6,000+ learners trained

Since 2016: 135 innovations, 3,370 ventures supported,
€2.4B attracted, 70,000 learners trained and
780,000 lives impacted by our innovations.

Meeting unmet needs through innovation

Our innovation projects bring the knowledge triangle to life. Every project is a consortium, uniting start-ups, research institutions, hospitals, and industry partners. Together, they share expertise, resources, and networks to bring ideas from lab to market to bedside.

In 2024, solutions we have supported through this model achieved key milestones:

  • Corify Care’s ACORYS®: This non-invasive mapping system enables real-time heart diagnostics in under 10 minutes, reducing procedure times and improving ablation success rates. CE marking was achieved in 2024, and the system has already been used to treat over 1,000 patients.
  • ABLE Human Motion: A lightweight, cost-effective robotic exoskeleton now supporting rehabilitation in hospitals across Europe. With CE marking secured, ABLE is restoring mobility and independence for patients with spinal cord injuries. “For the first time, I was able to go out and walk down the street, which was something unimaginable..’’.” – Pilot with spinal cord injury using ABLE exoskeleton
  • echOpen: The “stethoscope of the 21st century,” an ultra-portable ultrasound probe connecting to smartphones, received CE certification in 2024. Already with more than 400 devices on the market, it is transforming diagnostics in both Europe and underserved regions. “Portable, personal clinical ultrasound probes significantly improve patient care. They enable earlier, safer pre-diagnosis, and improve the relationship between professional and patient.”– Emergency Physician

For patients, these EIT Health innovation project success stories mean better, safer care. For Europe, they demonstrate how collaboration across sectors translates into industrial leadership and stronger healthcare systems.

Scaling start-ups, strengthening the health economy

Through our accelerator programmes, we provide mentoring, regulatory expertise,
and access to investors and partners. In 2024, our supported ventures raised
€227M and reached new markets. Many start-ups we have accelerated through this
model achieved notable milestones in the last twelve months, including:

  • inHEART: Attracted €7.8M to expand its AI-driven digital twin of
    the heart, helping clinicians plan cardiac ablations with precision and saving
    lives by reducing complications. “It’s exciting for us to be at the forefront
    of transforming the healthcare industry with the power of AI technology by
    improving the efficiency of care, quality of decision-making, and effectiveness
    and safety of medical interventions.” – inHEART CEO
  • Luminate Medical: Backed by €13.6M, their wearable device
    prevents chemotherapy-induced hair loss, protecting dignity and boosting the
    mental health of cancer patients worldwide. “Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is
    more than just a physical change. It’s a profound shift in identity, self-image,
    and control.” – Clinical Research Nurse
  • Vitadio: Secured permanent DiGA reimbursement in Germany, making
    its digital diabetes therapy fully accessible. Clinical validation shows
    outcomes on par with drugs, empowering patients to manage their condition.
  • Loop Diagnostics: Developed SeptiLoop, a rapid test for early
    sepsis detection, recognised by Forbes as one of “Spanish SMEs Changing the
    World.” This innovation enables timely interventions, reducing mortality and
    costs. “Each hour of delay in administering antibiotics increases mortality by
    7.6%. Our technology enables earlier intervention, optimises antibiotic use,
    and helps combat antimicrobial resistance.” – Loop Diagnostics CEO
  • Pan Cancer T: Advanced next-generation T cell therapies for
    triple-negative breast cancer. Early research suggests that analysing immune
    responses across cancer types could open new avenues for earlier detection—an
    approach Pan Cancer T is actively exploring with research partners. This
    potential breakthrough offers new hope for patients facing limited options.

By supporting high-potential start-ups to grow, we fuel a sustainable health
economy that creates jobs, strengthens competitiveness, and reduces system
costs through more efficient treatments.

Upskilling the innovators of the future

Innovation thrives when people have the knowledge and skills to drive and embrace it. EIT Health’s education programmes develop and enhance the capabilities needed for transformation, equipping learners to lead positive change in healthcare. In 2024, we trained over 6,000 students and professionals through opportunities from advanced degrees to technical upskilling.
At the Career Path event in Budapest, 85 graduates of EIT-labelled programmes celebrated their achievements. More importantly, they carried stories of impact. A nurse integrating AI into clinical practice, a young researcher launching a start-up, a policymaker returning home with new tools and skills to reform local systems.
The Pact for Skills for the Healthcare Industry grew to 44 signatories, forming a coalition preparing Europe’s workforce for tomorrow’s challenges. With 15 new modules launched on the EIT Health Academy, we are creating lifelong learning pathways. These investments ensure that when innovation reaches the bedside, professionals are ready.
Education underpins Europe’s long-term resilience by strengthening skills, leadership, and adaptability. Every learner we train is brings knowledge back to their peers and broader networks, learning new skills and expertise, contributing to the strengthening of health systems and improvement of patient care.

Thought leadership to inform policy

To truly transform healthcare, innovation must be embedded into policy. In
2024, EIT Health built bridges between innovators and decision-makers, ensuring
that fresh ideas can be embedded into Europe’s health systems through effective
and evidence-based policy development.

Our Think Tank published influential recommendations on the European Health
Data Space, sparking dialogue with DG SANTE, RTD, CNCT, and others. We engaged in
46 high-level exchanges, amplifying the voices of entrepreneurs, clinicians,
and patients and other relevant experts. Our invitation to join the WHO Europe
Strategic Partners Initiative on Data and Digital Health underscored our
growing role as a trusted advisor in ongoing dialogue with policy makers
shaping an environment conducive to the widespread adoption of innovation
across Europe.

Policy is where ideas meet reality. By shaping the frameworks that govern
healthcare, we are ensuring that innovations don’t remain pilot projects, but
instead become part of daily practice, benefiting millions.

Building a movement for change

In 2024, our mission resonated more widely than ever. We expanded our digital community to nearly 150,000 people, achieved over 1 billion media impressions, and generated €14M in media value. But beyond numbers, our communications are about one thing – belief. Belief that Europe can lead in health innovation, and
that solutions to the toughest challenges are within reach.

At the EIT Health Summit in Rotterdam, more than 400 delegates gathered – entrepreneurs, policymakers, clinicians, and patients. The atmosphere was electric with possibility, as groundbreaking ideas and human stories came together under one roof. It was a vivid reminder of why we do what we do, as when people connect, innovation accelerates.

By telling our story clearly and widely, we attract members, inspire policymakers, and build momentum. Communication is central to our collaborative approach, turning isolated successes into a shared movement for change.

Closing the innovation gap

True innovation leaves no one behind. Our Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) accelerates start-ups from Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe, bridging the innovation gap and building inclusive ecosystems that spread opportunity across the continent. In 2024, RIS initiatives helped start-ups raise €22.3M, over 1,150 leaders attended learning events, and launched six new healthcare accelerators in countries including Slovenia, Croatia, and Lithuania.

Among these stories is Polish start-up AutoCast, whose ultrasound-enabled insole for diabetic foot ulcers helps patients in
rural areas access continuous therapy at home. For those facing the risk of amputation, this is more than innovation. It’s life changing. Recognised with multiple awards, including the Baltic Sea Region Health Award, AutoCast is
progressing toward clinical trials and European certification, aiming to reduce amputations and save lives.

By investing in these regions, we ensure healthcare innovation is a European project in the truest sense, with the possibility to reach every citizen.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, EIT Health stands at the crossroads of opportunity and responsibility. The challenges across the healthcare landscape are immense, but they also catalyse transformation. 2024 showed us that change is possible when innovators, healthcare providers, members, policymakers, and patients unite around a shared mission.
In 2025, we will build on this momentum by deepening support for innovators, accelerating adoption of digital health solutions, and working hand in hand with policymakers to shape resilient healthcare systems. With FP10, the new EU research and innovation framework programme that co-funds our work, which will start in 2028, we will continue to advocate for health innovation as a vital driver of European competitiveness and wellbeing. Our Flagships Strategy, which focuses on the key thematic priorities for healthcare, such as the digital transformation, will guide our efforts, ensuring we tackle the most urgent challenges with focus and ambition.
The future of healthcare is not yet written. But the foundations are being laid now.
Every start-up supported, every learner trained, every patient reached brings us closer to a Europe where high-quality healthcare is accessible to all. Our work in 2024 proved that innovation can save lives, restore dignity, and strengthen systems.
In the years ahead, we will carry this momentum forward, ensuring that across Europe, every citizen can live a longer, healthier life.