61
7. The Impact of the Programme
Citizens have benefited from European-funded health research since it features: the translation of
basic discoveries into clinical applications, methods for health promotion and prevention including the
promotion of healthy ageing, diagnostic tools and medical technologies, and sustainable and efficient
healthcare systems. Clinical research funded through FP7-HEALTH tackled a number of diseases such
as cancer, cardiovascular, infectious, mental and neurological diseases, and particularly those linked
with ageing, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Through international multi-centre trials
involving the required number of patients, new drugs and treatments were developed and validated in
a shorter time frame.
Preliminary outcomes of the FP7-HEALTH programme, based on 370 closed projects (37% of the
projects, corresponding to an EC contribution of 1.303 Mio. Euros), have resulted in 10.485
publications (in identified journals with an average Impact Factor of 8,8), 32 spin-offs and 230 new
patent applications.
Research-based SMEs are the main economic drivers of healthcare, biotechnology and medical
technologies. The FP7-HEALTH programme allowed the creation of an environment conducive to
innovation in the public and private sectors in Europe. The
7th
Framework Programme for Research
and Innovation (2007-2013) foresaw that a minimum of 15% of its budget should go to SMEs. The
FP7-HEALTH cooperation programme has dedicated ~1000 Mio. Euros to 1230 unique SMEs and 181
Mio. Euros to 289 unique industries. In addition to EU collaborative HEALTH research projects, in 2008
the European Commission together with the pharmaceutical industry association EFPIA launched the
Innovative Medicine Initiative, Europe's largest public-private partnership in life sciences. The IMI
Programme supported networks of industry, SMEs and academics in order to boost pharmaceutical
innovation in Europe.
In the effort to tackle the key European and global health challenges (i.e. ageing population; increased
disease burden, unsustainable and unequal health care systems, health & care sector under pressure
to reform), the Greek participants in the HEALTH programme ensured the active participation of
Greece in the latest European strategic developments and policies in the health sector. In addition to
the economic benefit, they reaped benefits from their involvement in world-reputed health research
consortia. The health research infrastructure of Greek participants was upgraded through EC funding.
New work positions were developed, and research personnel from Greece benefited from
collaborations with distinguished scientists, excellent research groups and businesses both in and out
of Europe. Greek participants were provided access to clinical applications, to the development and
validation of new therapies, and diagnostic tools as well as to best practices in healthcare systems
through multidicisplinary collaborations of health researchers (clinicians, epidemiologists…) with
experts in ICT, bio- & nanotechnologies, environment, material sciences, food technologists, engineers
as well as scientists in the Social Sciences & Humanities.
In summary, the participation of Greek organisations in the programme HEALTH contributed
significantly to:
the networking of Greek organisations with innovative research organisations in and out of Europe
access to know-how, new methodologies & technologies in the HEALTH sector
funding Greek research, upgrading research infrastructures and improving the research
manpower of the country
the development of new employment positions &
the exploitation of research results for sustainability and development.
