Periodic Reporting for period 2 - i4KIDS-EUROPE (Inclusive and Interconnected Ecosystem to Boost Paediatric Innovation in Europe-i4KIDS-EUROPE)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2024-01-15 al 2025-03-14
The i4KIDS-EUROPE project is set to addresses critical gaps in pediatric healthcare innovation across Europe. While adult healthcare has seen major advances, pediatric innovation remains underfunded and fragmented, often overlooking children’s unique needs. i4KIDS-EUROPE tackles these challenges by building an inclusive, interconnected European ecosystem that bridges the gap between strong and emerging/moderate innovator regions. Its overarching goal is to ensure equitable access to pediatric innovations for all children, regardless of geography, condition, or socioeconomic status.
The project has focused on:
- Mapping the pediatric innovation landscape, with emphasis on needs and barriers in less advanced regions.
- Building a sustainable network and engagement strategies for key stakeholders.
- Strengthening capacity and knowledge through training and mentoring.
- Communicating results to attract interest and foster collaboration.
- Ensuring effective coordination and management.
The expected impact includes greater awareness, cross-border collaboration, and the development of targeted solutions, leading to better health outcomes and reduced inequalities. By aligning with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, i4KIDS-EUROPE aims at positioning children’s health as a priority, shaping a resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven pediatric healthcare network across Europe.
The project has focused on:
- Mapping the pediatric innovation landscape, with emphasis on needs and barriers in less advanced regions.
- Building a sustainable network and engagement strategies for key stakeholders.
- Strengthening capacity and knowledge through training and mentoring.
- Communicating results to attract interest and foster collaboration.
- Ensuring effective coordination and management.
The expected impact includes greater awareness, cross-border collaboration, and the development of targeted solutions, leading to better health outcomes and reduced inequalities. By aligning with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, i4KIDS-EUROPE aims at positioning children’s health as a priority, shaping a resilient, inclusive, and innovation-driven pediatric healthcare network across Europe.
The i4KIDS-EUROPE project has successfully met its objectives through strategic actions aimed at strengthening the paediatric healthcare innovation ecosystem in Europe, with a focus on emerging and moderate innovator countries.
The main activities and achievements include:
1 Pediatric Ecosystem Diagnosis
A comprehensive analysis of the pediatric innovation landscape through a survey of 134 stakeholders and 25 in-depth interviews. The resulting Situation Report identified barriers such as fragmented funding, regulatory hurdles, and limited market access.
Outcome: The report guided project strategy and informed policy recommendations.
2 Network Building & Stakeholder Engagement
The project built a network of over 4,000 innovators via the i4KIDS-EUROPE group on the EIT Health Innovators Platform.
Outcome: Strengthened cross-border collaboration and mutual learning among innovator regions.
3 Capacity Building & Training
Twelve Training Capsules were developed on key topics, attracting 1,000+ participants from 34 countries, alongside six webinars.
Outcome: Training resources and a mentorship network boosted the ecosystem’s technical and business capabilities.
4 Pediatric Innovation Days (PIDs)
Two PIDs were hosted in Warsaw (2023) and Riga (2024), with over 600 participants from 30 countries.
Outcome: PIDs became a reference event for pediatric innovation, with future editions planned in Barcelona (2025) and Helsinki (2026).
5 White Paper Development
The White Paper, consolidated findings from working groups and surveys, offering actionable policy recommendations. Co-developed by 40+ organizations and validated by experts from 15 countries, it was shared with EU institutions (e.g. EMA, EIT Health).
Outcome: Influenced EU-level policy dialogue on pediatric innovation.
6 Hospital Challenge
An open call targeted clinical needs in pediatric hospitals. Eleven startups pitched to 16 hospitals, with the winner receiving mentorship and pilot opportunities.
Outcome: Enabled real-world validation and supported market entry of pediatric solutions.
7 Strategic Collaborations
Partnerships with projects such as ADD4KIDS, C4C, i4KIDS4RARE, and Stanford Biodesign brought synergies in adoption, clinical research, and rare diseases.
Outcome: Expanded impact through knowledge exchange and aligned strategies across Europe and beyond.
The main activities and achievements include:
1 Pediatric Ecosystem Diagnosis
A comprehensive analysis of the pediatric innovation landscape through a survey of 134 stakeholders and 25 in-depth interviews. The resulting Situation Report identified barriers such as fragmented funding, regulatory hurdles, and limited market access.
Outcome: The report guided project strategy and informed policy recommendations.
2 Network Building & Stakeholder Engagement
The project built a network of over 4,000 innovators via the i4KIDS-EUROPE group on the EIT Health Innovators Platform.
Outcome: Strengthened cross-border collaboration and mutual learning among innovator regions.
3 Capacity Building & Training
Twelve Training Capsules were developed on key topics, attracting 1,000+ participants from 34 countries, alongside six webinars.
Outcome: Training resources and a mentorship network boosted the ecosystem’s technical and business capabilities.
4 Pediatric Innovation Days (PIDs)
Two PIDs were hosted in Warsaw (2023) and Riga (2024), with over 600 participants from 30 countries.
Outcome: PIDs became a reference event for pediatric innovation, with future editions planned in Barcelona (2025) and Helsinki (2026).
5 White Paper Development
The White Paper, consolidated findings from working groups and surveys, offering actionable policy recommendations. Co-developed by 40+ organizations and validated by experts from 15 countries, it was shared with EU institutions (e.g. EMA, EIT Health).
Outcome: Influenced EU-level policy dialogue on pediatric innovation.
6 Hospital Challenge
An open call targeted clinical needs in pediatric hospitals. Eleven startups pitched to 16 hospitals, with the winner receiving mentorship and pilot opportunities.
Outcome: Enabled real-world validation and supported market entry of pediatric solutions.
7 Strategic Collaborations
Partnerships with projects such as ADD4KIDS, C4C, i4KIDS4RARE, and Stanford Biodesign brought synergies in adoption, clinical research, and rare diseases.
Outcome: Expanded impact through knowledge exchange and aligned strategies across Europe and beyond.
The i4KIDS-EUROPE project has advanced pediatric innovation across Europe by establishing a collaborative, action-oriented network that connects stakeholders, identifies unmet needs, and scales impactful solutions. Its achievements represent progress beyond the state of the art, with potential for lasting societal and economic impact. The project delivered the first Europe-wide Paediatric Innovation Situation Report and White Paper, highlighting regulatory fragmentation, underfunding, and poor market access as systemic barriers. These outputs provide a strategic roadmap for EU policymakers and stakeholders. With over 1,000 stakeholders across 34 countries engaged in training programs, mentoring, and Paediatric Innovation Days, the project focused on building human capital, increases innovation adoption, and foster a stronger, more competitive innovation ecosystem. It also work towards Cross-Border Collaboration, bulding a pan-European network, including hospitals, startups, and academia, was established, accelerating knowledge transfer and the adoption of pediatric innovations across borders. Also connections with international ecosystems such as the US. Finally, for long-term Sustainability, the project partners co-developed Sustainability Plan ensures the network’s post-project continuity, including ongoing funding strategies and collaboration frameworks.
Wider Socioeconomic Impact
By boosting access to pediatric innovation in underserved regions, the project addresses health inequities and supports EU goals of social inclusion. However, challenges still remain. First, a financially secured and sustainable network is essential to maintain the activities started in the framework of the project. Second, resources to continue the ongoing research and demonstration are essential to tackle the complex needs of paediatric healthcare, with further projects required to prove the potential, effectiveness and scalability of these innovations. To this regard, more funding and research and development is needed, with continued investment, awareness and lobbying for improved regulatory adaptation, and innovative market access strategies in Europe and global reach.
Wider Socioeconomic Impact
By boosting access to pediatric innovation in underserved regions, the project addresses health inequities and supports EU goals of social inclusion. However, challenges still remain. First, a financially secured and sustainable network is essential to maintain the activities started in the framework of the project. Second, resources to continue the ongoing research and demonstration are essential to tackle the complex needs of paediatric healthcare, with further projects required to prove the potential, effectiveness and scalability of these innovations. To this regard, more funding and research and development is needed, with continued investment, awareness and lobbying for improved regulatory adaptation, and innovative market access strategies in Europe and global reach.