The European Union research and innovation ecosystem is at a turning point. While the Letta, Draghi & Heitor reports emphasised the instrumental role played by research and innovation in driving forward Europe’s leadership in life sciences and its overall competitiveness, challenges are mounting including strained budgets, a strongly competitive funding environment, increasing bureaucratic burdens and threats to academic freedom. These developments are adding up to the growing burden posed by brain disorders, neurological and mental alike, to the European Union. Despite the many positive developments in the space, these disorders still impact all European citizens and remain largely difficult to manage a treat.
Brain disorders are widespread, highly disabling and often difficult to treat, representing the leading cause of disability in the world and the second leading cause of death, and exerting a massive individual, societal and economic burden. Because the brain is the most complex organ of the human body, understanding how the brain works, how brain diseases progress (basic research) and finding treatments and cures for these diseases (applied research) is a long-term endeavour. Brain research is highly interdisciplinary, requiring the use of a wide range of research techniques, based on different models – human, artificial, digital and animal – which remains essential for progress in this domain and actively contribute to a flourishing life science sector. Brain research and innovation must therefore be recognised, more than ever, as an instrumental driver of the EU’s competitiveness and leading role on the international life sciences community.
As the European Union prepares for its next Framework Programme for Research & Innovation (FP10), the next phase of the European Research Area (ERA) and the upcoming European Partnership for Brain Health, there is an urgent need to strengthen the ability of Europe’s researchers to innovate, collaborate, and drive forward progress in neuroscience. In recent years, brain research has delivered major achievements with the potential to transform the lives of the millions on Europeans living with a brain disorder. A European Life Science strategy should therefore navigate the current challenges and opportunities faced by researchers, clinicians and innovators in Europe to both maintain and enhance the competitiveness of the EU on a global stage.