Event highlights
On 30 October 2025, the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Europe unanimously adopted the “Strategy on harnessing innovation for public health in the WHO European Region 2025–2030”. The Strategy has been developed to accelerate transformative action across public health systems in the Region, ensuring that life-saving innovations are aligned with policy priorities in every country and reach vulnerable populations that need them most.
The Strategy was presented by Dr Gundo Weiler, Director of Prevention and Health Promotion, WHO/Europe, and was complemented by a statement from Professor Plamen Dimitrov, member of the Technical Advisory Group on Building an Innovation Ecosystem for Public Health.
The Strategy provides a roadmap for turning ideas into impact, helping countries bridge the persistent innovation–implementation gap that has left many proven public health solutions underused or fragmented across the Region. It defines innovation in public health as the large-scale application of new processes, policies, products or programmes that meet unmet health needs, improving quality, efficiency and equity in a sustainable way.
Strategic areas and mega shifts
Structured around 5 strategic areas – from integrated innovation policies and sustainable financing to capacity-building, scaling impactful solutions and developing collaborative regional platforms – the Strategy calls for a decisive shift toward mission-driven, equitable innovation that strengthens health systems and improves population health.
“Across our Region, we see countless examples of breakthrough ideas that never reach the people who need them most,” said Dr Gundo Weiler. “This Strategy is about closing that gap – connecting innovation with implementation, and ensuring that every good idea has a pathway to real-world impact.”
“The Strategy’s proposed mega shifts – from quantum collaborations to digital solidarity and accelerated capacity – signal a new era for public health innovation,” added Professor Dimitrov. “They are bold by design, because only bold shifts can meet the scale of today’s health challenges.”
The WHO/Europe mega shifts to transform public health are as follows:
- mega shift 1: quantum collaboratives – re-imagined partnerships for impossible problems;
- mega shift 2: digital solidarity – democratizing data for public health intelligence and innovation;
- mega shift 3: accelerated capacity – amplifying human potential in resource-constrained health systems; and
- mega shift 4: incentive revolution – aligning public and private markets with population health.
These shifts prioritize mission-driven partnerships, ethical and inclusive data, digital infrastructure, workforce empowerment and the realignment of incentives to ensure that public and private sector efforts are coordinated for maximum health impact, equity and sustainability.
The Strategy will result in actionable guidance for policy-makers, health authorities and partners, supporting the implementation of the Second European Programme of Work 2026–2030 (EPW2) and positioning the Region to achieve measurable improvements in health outcomes, system resilience and equity for all populations.
From inspiration to real action
Under the EPW2, WHO/Europe will dedicate 30% of its efforts to innovation, tackling emerging megatrends such as in noncommunicable diseases, mental health, climate change and system resilience.
The Strategy is accompanied by an Innovation Agenda, a practical roadmap that ensure countries translate innovation into measurable health impact.
By empowering health ministries to move from inspiration to implementation, WHO/Europe aims to ensure that innovation becomes a driving force for better health and resilience across all Member States — transforming bold ideas into lasting impact for every community.