Skip to main content
Go to the home page of the European Commission (opens in new window)
English en
CORDIS - EU research results
CORDIS

Driving Sustainable Innovation to Minimise PFAS in European Healthcare

Objective

PFAROS is our European game-changing initiative to accelerate the transition away from harmful PFAS substances in the pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors. Aligned with EU public health, environmental, and industrial policy objectives, PFAROS is developing safe, scalable, and regulatory-ready alternatives, ensuring that healthcare innovation and sustainability go hand in hand.
PFAROS’ mission is to replace PFAS in medical and pharmaceutical applications through a multidisciplinary approach, combining validated alternatives, advanced degradation and disposal technologies, and data science to support informed substitution and policy action.
At the core of PFAROS is a policy-informed, AI-powered data tool that maps PFAS use, identifies viable alternatives, and integrates life-cycle, exposure, and toxicological data—empowering evidence-based policy and regulatory decisions. Coupled with broad stakeholder engagement and social science integration, the project ensures a just and informed transition.
PFAROS will ultimately unlock a PFAS-free future for Europe’s healthcare system by:
1. Developing an integrated testing and assessment framework to implement the safe and sustainable by design approach for PFAS replacement;
2. Providing validated, industry-ready PFAS alternatives to ensure rapid adoption;
3. Enabling data-driven decision-making through a PFAROS AI-powered data tool tailored to support regulatory needs;
4. Setting the gold standard for sustainable alternatives and end-of-life solutions in critical applications;
5. Ensuring broad adoption and fostering cross-sector collaboration with industry, regulators, academia, and civil society;
6. Positioning the EU as a global leader in sustainable chemical policy and healthcare innovation.
PFAROS is more than a scientific initiative—it is a policy enabler, offering concrete tools and solutions to support a safer, greener, and more resilient healthcare system for Europe.
The PFAROS project is a public private partnership (IHI).

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Keywords

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

HORIZON-JU-RIA - HORIZON JU Research and Innovation Actions

See all projects funded under this funding scheme

Call for proposal

(opens in new window) HORIZON-JU-IHI-2025-10-two-stage

See all projects funded under this call

Coordinator

UNIVERSITEIT GENT
Net EU contribution
€ 4 279 946,25
Address
SINT PIETERSNIEUWSTRAAT 25
9000 Gent
Belgium
Region
Vlaams Gewest Prov. Oost-Vlaanderen Arr. Gent
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 4 279 946,25

Participants (43)

Partners (45)