Denmark’s minister for research, Morten Østergaard, wants EU health research policy to focus on innovation and promoting public-private partnerships, he said in a speech on 24 January.
Speaking to medical company research directors in Brussels, the minister said ageing European populations are a ”ticking bomb” for the health industry.
“The industry is fighting to renew itself and develop innovative treatments,” he said. “As well as ensuring there are sufficient research funds for the treatment of illnesses, Europe must also think of new ways that private pharmaceutical companies can collaborate with public research institutions.”
He added that Horizon 2020, the European Commission’s proposed new research funding instrument, should help bridge the gap between the laboratory and the marketplace.