Research Needs for Global Health

Europe is well placed to take a lead role in developing global health research and innovation. This presentation aims at exploring the potential and making recommendations for Europe’s role in research and innovation to improve global health. It will not only describe the nature of global health today but will also argue that an increased EU engagement in research and innovation for global health is necessary, taking into account a number of special features that require specific attention, beyond those which are generically dealt with in broadly framed policy on research and innovation.

 The presentation will highlight the need for coherence between Horizon 2020 and other key EU policies, including that on the EU’s role in global health, and the potential for global health research to play an instrumental role in achieving Europe 2020 goals of growth, innovation and social inclusion. It will outline reasons justifying an increased investment in research and innovation for global health, such as

-         To effectively combat the major health challenges at European and global level, including the rising tide of non-communicable diseases and the widening health equity gap;

-         To provide competitive advantage for European industry and research (bearing in mind the need for balance with access issues for LICs and the importance of the Doha Declaration);

-         To improve health for Europeans and globally, with consequent positive effects on health systems, employment and global health security;

-         To sustain EU credibility with regard to commitments made across a range of EU policies, including those on health, economic growth, social inclusion and development;

-         To promote European goals and values in health; and

-         To facilitate global health and science diplomacy, knowledge sharing and common solutions to problems