DSW, PATH, TB Alliance, IAVI, DNDi, IPM and MMV co-hosted a roundtable discussion on Strengthening European Investment in Global Health Research & Innovation, alongside the World Health Summit on October 28th in Berlin. Speakers included leadership from European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the European Commission, and representatives from EU and African countries. Participants highlighted past success of EDCTP in funding innovative and transformative global health research and discussed how innovators and funders can better synergize to increase the impact of European investment in the next EU-Africa Global Health Partnership.
EU member state representatives from Italy, Finland, France, Germany and Sweden and the European Commission confirmed their strong support for EDCTP and its successor and participants discussed the need for increased commitment. Discussion among participants also highlighted the need for future mechanisms to have increased flexibility to move products through the development pipeline. Representatives from African participating states provided perspectives on the importance of local trials and capacity building, noting the importance of investment from both the European Commission as well as EDCTP.