On 9 September 2026, the European Commission presented its proposal for the new European Innovation Act, an initiative designed to make it easier for innovative ideas and companies to develop, secure financing and scale within Europe.
The proposal is a key part of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy and the Competitiveness Compass, supporting the EU’s wider objective of strengthening competitiveness and technological autonomy. Eurpean Innovation Act
At its core is a challenge that has long affected Europe’s innovation ecosystem: turning research into market-ready solutions. The EU has a strong research base, scientific talent and a wealth of emerging technologies. Yet Europe continues to face difficulties in translating research into products and services that reach the market and grow at scale.
The Commission itself identifies differing rules across Member States, limited access to finance and barriers to the commercialisation of intellectual property as factors that continue to slow this transition. Eurpean Innovation Act
From Research Ideas to Commercial Value
One of the main pillars of the European Innovation Act concerns intellectual property (IP).
Many startups and scaleups own patents, know-how and other intangible assets that can be difficult to value financially. This, in turn, can make it harder for innovative businesses to attract investment and access financing.
The proposal foresees the creation of a common EU framework for IP valuation, alongside a digital marketplace connecting buyers and sellers of intellectual property rights. It also includes expert support to help businesses bring their ideas to market.
According to European Commission estimates, these measures could help unlock up to €10.2 billion in additional financing every year through IP-backed venture capital and debt. Eurpean Innovation Act
The proposal is particularly relevant to healthcare and biomedical research. In these sectors, a significant share of an innovation’s value may lie in patents, algorithms, diagnostic methods and other forms of know-how. A more consistent and predictable approach to valuation could therefore create new opportunities for accessing capital. Eurpean Innovation Act
Public Procurement as a Driver of Innovation
A second important part of the proposal concerns research and development procurement (R&D procurement).
The Commission proposes a common European procedure that would give public authorities greater legal certainty when procuring R&D services. It would also make it easier for public buyers in different Member States to collaborate.
The aim is to accelerate the transition of new technologies from development to real-world application, including in areas addressing major societal needs such as healthcare. Eurpean Innovation Act
Within this framework, hospitals, regional health authorities and other public healthcare organisations can play a role not only as end users, but also as first buyers of innovative solutions. This can enable them to test, assess and gradually adopt technologies that have not yet reached large-scale commercial deployment.
This is precisely the principle behind European innovation procurement policy: public-sector demand can act as a catalyst for the wider uptake of innovative solutions. Eurpean Innovation Act
Regulatory Sandboxes for Emerging Areas
Alongside the European Innovation Act, the Commission is proposing a common European reference framework for regulatory sandboxes in areas that are not already covered by specific EU legislation.
Regulatory sandboxes allow businesses, researchers and public authorities to test new products, services and technologies for a limited period in a controlled environment under the supervision of the relevant authorities.
They can help innovators understand how regulatory requirements apply in practice, while also giving public authorities valuable insight into areas where existing rules may need to evolve. Eurpean Innovation Act
This approach is particularly relevant to fast-moving technologies, where innovation can develop more quickly than existing regulatory frameworks. In healthcare, controlled testing can help accelerate the journey of new technologies from research to real-world application while safeguarding patients and the public interest. Eurpean Innovation Act
What the European Innovation Act Could Mean for Greece’s Health Ecosystem
For Greek startups, research teams and businesses operating in healthcare and pharmaceuticals, the European Innovation Act could help address several of the barriers that often emerge after a technology has been developed:
- access to finance,
- commercialisation of intellectual property,
- access to markets,
- opportunities to test new solutions,
- and connections with public buyers.
For public healthcare organisations in Greece, the new framework could also create more opportunities to participate directly in the development and adoption of innovative solutions. Eurpean Innovation Act
The Role of Health Hub
Connecting research, businesses, technology infrastructures and end users is also at the heart of the European Digital Innovation Hub model.
Health Hub’s services include an Innovation Procurement Broker for organisations and buyers in the healthcare sector, alongside:
- opportunities to test technologies before investing,
- support in accessing finance,
- training and networking services.
Explore Health Hub’s services and discover how the Hub can support the development of your innovation.