Historically, the strength of the European Union has been defined by its ability to harmonise social progress with economic stability. Today, this balance depends on our capacity to safeguard the cognitive health of our population.
To succeed, Europe needs to move beyond a ‘health budget’ mindset – which views healthcare as a fiscal cost – towards a model that treats the life sciences as a fundamental investment in our long-term prosperity. This transition requires a synchronised effort across the legislative landscape to ensure that scientific innovation translates into tangible outcomes.
Health policy should be viewed on a par with industrial policy; investing in the brain is an investment in the future of the European workforce and the sustainability of our social model.
Addressing the European competitiveness gap
A clear trend has emerged in the global life sciences landscape, characterised by a steady migration of research and investment toward North America and Asia. This is reflected in the 10% drop in Europe’s share of global clinical trials over the last decade. Consequently, the industry faces an ‘access paradox’ where European breakthroughs face significant delays in reaching the clinical trial setting due to regulatory fragmentation.
The direct result of this competitive decline is a widening access gap: approximately 60,000 fewer Europeans benefit from the latest experimental therapies through clinical trials annually compared to a decade ago. This loss of activity deprives patients of early access to life-saving interventions and slows the gathering of essential real-world evidence.
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