IHI is a public-private partnership. We create a powerful leveraging effect by attracting commitments from industry and (in some projects) contributing partners. This co-investment multiplies the impact of EU funds, generating greater innovation outcomes and strengthening Europe’s leadership.
Leverage funding: Contributing to IHI is an excellent way to make your resources stretch further while sharing risks.
Influence research: As an investor in a project, you will be able to influence it from the earliest stages. This is particularly the case for industry partners, as the industry associations generally have strategic groups working on ideas for new IHI projects.
Networking: As a contributor to IHI, you will be part of the wider collaborative health innovation ecosystem that we are creating. In your project(s), you will work in a neutral, pre-competitive space alongside experts from other industry sectors, universities, patient groups, regulators and others, giving you unprecedented opportunities to learn from them (and vice-versa).
Benefits of scale: IHI is launching ambitious, large-scale, cross-sector projects addressing major challenges in health research. Working at scale in this way increases the likelihood of the projects having a real impact.
The following organisations can contribute to IHI projects:
Standard members of one of the industry associations that are official partners in IHI
Details of members can be found on the associations’ websites: COCIR, EFPIA, EuropaBio, MedTech Europe, and Vaccines Europe.
Industry association members in specific membership categories
Organisations in the the following specific membership categories can also contribute to IHI in the same way as standard members: EFPIA Partners in Research, EFPIA SME members, MedTech Europe Partners in Research, and COCIR Associate Members.
Organisations that are indirectly affiliated to these industry associations
For example, companies that are members of national associations that are themselves members of the IHI industry association members.
IHI contributing partners
IHI contributing partners are organisations that are not linked to the IHI industry partners but wish to strategically invest in our projects. If you want to be a contributing partner, you will need to apply to the IHI Governing Board. More information on the contributing partner scheme can be found here.
In-kind contributions
Most (around 90%) of the industry / contributing partner contribution to IHI consists of in-kind contributions. Around half of the contribution is staff members’ time, as they bring unique expertise to the project. Most of the rest is subcontracting, other direct costs (such as consumables, equipment depreciation, samples, compounds), and indirect costs.
There are two categories of in-kind contribution:
- In-kind contributions to operational activities (IKOP) are costs incurred by IHI industry members and contributing partners in the implementation of IHI projects.
- In-kind contributions to additional activities (IKAA) are costs incurred by IHI industry members in the implementation of additional activities, either contributing to IHI projects specifically (project-specific IKAA) or to the IHI JU Programme more generally (programme-specific IKAA). Contributing partners are not allowed to contribute IKAA.
To understand better the kinds of things that can be contributed 'in kind', and why they are so important to the success of IHI projects, watch our webinar 'Lifting the lid on in-kind contributions'.
Financial contributions
Financial contributions are cash contributions made by IHI industry members and contributing partners to IHI project beneficiaries eligible to receive funding.
Rules on contributions to IHI projects
Contributions to IHI projects must meet the eligibility criteria set out in Article 6.1 of the model Grant Agreement. Additional information on in-kind contributions can be found in the following documents: