The Health Research Board (HRB), as Ireland’s National Focal Point (NFP) for EU4Health, is supporting eligible applicants in securing funding from the European Union’s largest public health programme. With a total budget of €4.4 billion over seven years, EU4Health addresses Europe’s most urgent health challenges while strengthening preparedness for the future. Since its launch in 2021, it has played a central role in implementing EU health policies.
Amanda Daly, NFP for EU4Health and Programme Manager at the HRB, highlighted that the 2025 Work Programme offers significant opportunities for health sector professionals in Ireland. She encouraged those whose work aligns with the programme’s priorities to seek guidance on proposal submissions, partner identification, and building international networks to strengthen applications.
The 2025 Work Programme allocates over €570 million in funding across five strands, with the largest share—over €380 million—dedicated to crisis preparedness. This includes developing innovative medical countermeasures for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats, along with new diagnostic tests. Additional funding supports health promotion and disease prevention, tackling cancer and other non-communicable diseases, strengthening health systems and the workforce, and advancing digital health technologies, including AI integration in clinical and biotech applications.
EU4Health remains integral to initiatives such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan, with a strong focus this year on expanding cancer screening programmes. The programme also underscores the EU’s commitment to leveraging AI in healthcare innovation. The first calls for proposals under the 2025 Work Programme are expected in September 2025, and interested applicants can access the full programme details and guidance through HRB and HaDEA resources.
