Dear EBC Members, Partners and Community,
As we all transition into the summer holiday period, I wanted to take the opportunity to reflect on the past months, which have been both extremely fruitful and active for the entire brain community.
As I’m sure you are all aware, the European Commission has been actively working on several key policy files which will structure the European research and innovation ecosystem for the years to come, from its recently released budget to the successor of Horizon Europe and an ambitious Life Sciences Strategy. Over the past months, EBC has therefore amplified its engagement with EU institutions to ensure that brain health, brain research and innovation play a prominent role in these files and are adequately prioritised in these discussions.
This engagement has extended beyond EU institutions, with national-level initiatives such as the Rethinking Schizophrenia project Polish Country Profile, and advocacy in global forums such as the World Economic Forum and the G7. To further its goal of supporting the development of national brain strategies, EBC convened an event in the European Parliament during the 2025 Brain Awareness Week with key stakeholders from across the EU and beyond. Participants discussed best practices, challenges and opportunities directly with policymakers while making the case for an EU Coordination Plan for the Brain. Later in June, EBC also organised an event gathering representatives from the Commission, the Parliament and EU agencies to call for increased prioritisation of brain health and brain research. Surrounded by over 40 meetings with Members of the European Parliament and their staff, this engagement activity demonstrated the importance of bringing scientific expertise directly to policymakers to inform policies and drive concrete action, and the impact our community can have when united under a common message.
This work has laid a fertile ground for the second half of the year, which promises to be as eventful and crucial. As the European Parliament Public Health Committee will start drafting reports on a neurological and mental health strategies, it is now more important than ever that the community stands united around one clear and powerful message. EBC’s annual Strategic Meeting will be the opportunity to reflect and strategize ahead of these milestones, to ensure that our collective efforts lead to a better prioritisation of the brain in EU policy agendas. EBC will then head to New York to host the 2025 Brain Days at the Science Summit of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (September 24-26), where key partners from all over the world will gather to solidify brain health and brain capital as a global development priority in the UN agenda. We also look forward to welcoming you in Brussels for the 2025 Brain Innovation Days (October 14-16), set to host the final conference of the CSA BrainHealth, two months before the official launch of the European Partnership for Brain Health.
Thank you for your ongoing support in these vital efforts for our community, and wishing you excellent holidays,
Sincerely,
