EIT Health brings its European innovation community and expertise to Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster start-ups

• EIT Health the leading health innovation community in Europe, collaborates with Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC) to drive oncology innovation.
• PSCC start-ups gain access to EIT Health's network of over 130 European partners, benefiting from expertise in cancer innovation through the Venture Centre of Excellence (VCoE) programme.
• This partnership enhances PSCC's position as a European hub for start-ups and investors, opening doors to European funding and unlocking over €2 billion in potential investment.

EIT Health, part of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of the European Union, announces a new collaboration with the Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster (PSCC). Through this collaboration, start-ups within the PSCC will gain access to EIT Health's network of over 130 European partners, tapping into their proven expertise in fundraising and cancer innovation. Additionally, they will benefit from the Venture Centre of Excellence (VCoE) programme, courtesy of Sanofi's membership, an innovative global healthcare company - one of PSCC's founding members.

Awarded the Bio-cluster label under the France 2030 NextGenerationEU programme, the PSCC is the first of its kind in France. Its ambition is to drive forward innovation in oncology to make it more predictive, precise, and efficient by serving as a single gateway for innovative projects. The cluster brings together the actors of oncology innovation to develop solutions by offering a range of services, including expertise, cutting-edge technology platforms, access to patient samples, financing, and spaces.

For Jean-Marc Bourez, CEO of EIT Health, "This collaboration marks a major leap in our mission to accelerate oncology innovation. By harnessing the collective strengths of our networks, we empower start-ups to thrive in a diverse and dynamic European ecosystem. Together with PSCC, we are committed to shaping the healthcare innovation landscape, nurturing talent, and scaling transformative solutions. With a shared dedication to improving patients' lives, we anticipate remarkable breakthroughs to emerge from this partnership."

This partnership solidifies PSCC's position as a key European hub for start-ups and investors, fast-tracking innovations from the research stage through to the market. It also links to a broad network of Life Science investors across Europe, potentially releasing over €2 billion in investment for PSCC-associated start-ups.

Eric Vivier, President of the PSCC, commented "The PSCC is very pleased to announce this partnership that supports its objective of accelerating innovation in oncology. This partnership with EIT Health will open doors for PSCC-supported projects at the European level, enabling them to benefit from the European ecosystem and European funding.”

The Gustave Roussy Institute (IGR), a renowned cancer treatment centre, and Sanofi, have been longstanding partners of EIT Health and are also founding members of PSCC. Over the past five years, EIT Health has provided funding for more than 160 projects, including I4PCM and EHR2EDC, in collaboration with IGR and Sanofi respectively. These projects have facilitated the collection of clinical data from electronic health records, leading to improved efficiency in medical research and faster access to innovative treatments.

Christian Deleuze, Head of Innovation and Oncology Biocluster, Sanofi commented “Sanofi has a responsibility to contribute to the dynamism of innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems in France and Europe. Our membership in the Venture Centre of Excellence program is a fine illustration of this and will support the initiative we co-initiated two years ago by contributing to the invention of the PSCC. Partnerships between the public and private sectors are more essential than ever to address healthcare challenges and accelerate the discovery and development of tomorrow's new treatments”.

Since its inception, EIT Health has played a pivotal role in the rise of over 1,200 European start-ups, including the gynaecological cancer diagnostics firm, MiMARK. With a €6M backing, MiMARK, which has been involved with EIT Health since the 2020 WildCard Programme, has revolutionised women's healthcare with its innovative diagnostic test, WomEC, detecting endometrial cancer through biomarkers present in uterine fluids.

EIT Health is also actively engaged in the Filière Intelligence Artificielle et Cancers (FIAC), a public-private partnership in France. The goal of this collaboration is to harness the power of artificial intelligence in cancer research and patient care. By participating in FIAC, EIT Health reaffirms its dedication to fostering innovative solutions that enhance healthcare delivery in diverse therapeutic areas, ultimately improving the lives of patients.