Funding for artificial intelligence applications in cancer diagnosis

Subject: Funding for artificial intelligence applications in cancer diagnosis

Medical imaging has always been one of the most advanced areas of AI application, identifying anomalies with extraordinary accuracy and sensitivity. Medical imaging supported by artificial intelligence is used successfully to detect serious diseases. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning is giving promising results in cancer diagnosis.

Bearing in mind that beating cancer is one of the European research and innovation missions funded under the Horizon Europe programme to be implemented from 2021, I would like to ask the following questions:

1. Will medical imaging supported by artificial intelligence also be financed through the Horizon Europe programme?

2. Does the Commission intend to support the development and use of artificial intelligence, and in particular medical imaging, in the fight against cancer?

Answer given by Ms Gabriel on behalf of the European Commission

(7 December 2021)

1. Through Horizon Europe (1), the Commission will support research and innovation on medical imaging supported by artificial intelligence (AI), in particular through its Pillar II — Global challenges and industrial competitiveness, Cluster 1 — Health (2), including under the Mission on Cancer (3).

2. The European Cancer Imaging Initiative to be set up in 2022 is a flagship action of the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan. It will develop an EU ‘atlas’ of cancer-related images, making anonymised images accessible to a wide range of stakeholders and will involve the planned new Testing and Experimentation Facilities to link the data to tools such as High-Performance Computing and AI, including also benchmarks for cancer screening algorithms. Furthermore, the development of AI-based, medical imaging-guided solutions to improve diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and follow-up of cancer, building on an ongoing project portfolio funded under Horizon 2020 (4), is expected to be addressed by the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI) (5), one of several proposed Joint Undertakings between industry and the European Union involving all health industry sectors.

⋅1∙ Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027): https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-

programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en

⋅2∙ https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/cluster-1-health_en

⋅3∙ https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/missions-horizon-

europe/cancer_en

⋅4∙ Will contribute to enabling AI-enhanced clinical practice in cancer diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. Projects include CHAIMELEON:

https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/952172; EUCANIMAGE: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/952103; INCISIVE: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/952179; PRIMAGE: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/826494; PROCANCER-I: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/952159; iPC: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/826121 ⋅5∙ https://www.euhealthppp.org/