The Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) is a public-private partnership (PPP) between the European Union and the European life science industries, and these partners sit on our Governing Board. Its main objective is to translate healthcare research and innovation into tangible benefits for patients and society. It is also looking for Europe to become a reference in the fields of interdisciplinary, sustainable and patient-centered health research.

Any organisation established in the EU or a country associated to Horizon Europe is eligible to receive IHI funding. In practice, IHI funding primarily supports the participation in its projects of organisations like universities, research organisations, patient organisations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and mid-sized companies. Depending on the type of call for proposals, larger companies may also be eligible to receive IHI funding. Details of who can receive funding is spelt out in the call texts.

Contributing to IHI: industry partners and contributing partners

Large companies that are members of the IHI industry partners contribute to the programme, primarily through 'in-kind' contributions (e.g. their researchers' time, laboratories, data, compounds). They can also make cash contributions. IHI contributing partners provide resources to IHI in the same way.

At least 45% of each project's budget has to come from industry partner / contributing partner contributions (in exceptional cases, a lower percentage may be allowed).

Explanation of this specific topic

The scope of this topic is to investigate how DHT might positively impact the healthcare pathway for people with mental disorders.

Applicants should demonstrate how DHT may enable:

1. better prevention and prediction of disorder onset or relapse
2. better disease management
3. tackling comorbidities
4. addressing long-term health consequences (such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes)

The choice of the specific mental disorder should be justified based on unmet public health need, its impact on quality of life of people with mental disorders and their families/caregivers as well as the feasibility and preliminary evidence available on the use and value of DHT.

To contribute to breaking the silos between psychiatry and other medical branches and better address the impact of co-morbidities in people with mental disorders, applicants should consider relevant co-morbidity/ies where DHT data, learnings and technologies are already available and can be further developed/applied to mental disorders. Co-morbidities can significantly exacerbate mental health disorders, impacting quality of life and the development of long-term health consequences The choice of comorbidy/ies must therefore be justified accordingly.

Ways of decreasing the burden on caregivers and families should be considered, and applicants should actively engage these actors as well as the people with mental disorders in addressing critical issues and research questions, including about (sustained) engagement with DHT4. Consortia should propose ways to foster the future integration of digital and clinical mental healthcare, as well as how DHT might enhance the outcomes of interventions by social and healthcare professionals while decreasing the burden on the healthcare system. Applicants should adequately describe how they plan to measure such burden.

Resources,and learnings from previous initiatives at European and national level (Innovative Medicines Initiative funded among others) should be taken into consideration.

Applicants should aim to deliver robust evidence on how DHT may be:

• made easy to adopt and use in a sustained way for both people with mental disorders, their families/caregivers and health and care providers
• effectively incorporated into clinical research and in clinician workflows

Early engagement with regulators should be sought to ensure the future acceptance and usability of the results for example through scientific advice, qualification advice or qualification opinion.

Applicants are expected to implement activities to achieve all expected outcomes.

Applicants are expected to consider allocating appropriate resources to explore synergies with other relevant initiatives and projects.

In case of interest, both as possible coordinator or partner,  please click on "m'interessa" and we will contact you.