Many challenges need to be met to grant everybody’s legitimate wish for a long, happy and healthy life. Chronic and infectious diseases, pandemic threats and antimicrobial resistance are on the rise. Also, the side effects of an ageing population will need to be addressed – the number of people in the EU aged over 65 will have grown by 70% by 2050.

European research and innovation in health helps to tackle these challenges. It is an investment in our health and, on a larger scale, an investment in a healthy workforce, a healthy economy.