Tools and technologies to support health adaptation to climate change

Expected outcome

This topic aims at supporting activities that are enabling or contributing to one or several expected impacts of destination “Living and working in a health-promoting environment” and the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change. To that end, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed at, tailored towards and contributing to most of the following expected outcomes: Populations, public authorities and healthcare systems benefit from innovative solutions and technologies to increase surveillance and prevention and reduce climatic and environmental health risks. Policymakers and public authorities develop and implement environment, climate change and health policies and interventions supported by nearly fit-for-use solutions that can be further upscaled and deployed.

Scope

Enhancing the adaptive capacity and resilience of healthcare systems and communities is crucial to prevent and reduce the health impacts of climate change. However, many of the urgently needed technologies, tools, systems and solutions are still at an early developmental stage, relying on further support for development and testing. Proposals under this topic are expected to close this gap and build on innovations being developed in the field, supported through, among others, EU Research and Innovation (R&I) funding. In this context, Pre-commercial Procurement (PCP) projects can drive innovation and speed up the development of technologies for health adaptation to climate change by supporting the research and development of solutions to increase the resilience and preparedness of healthcare systems, communities and individuals against climate change. By focusing on early-stage solutions, PCP fosters collaboration between public sector buyers (e.g. public authorities, local authorities, health organisations) and private developers to create climate adaptation technologies, systems and solutions in the context of human health. These solutions will accelerate the transition to more climate-resilient healthcare systems and societies. PCP actions target consortia of procurers with similar needs that want to jointly procure the development of innovative solutions for supporting adaptation efforts. This topic does not provide direct funding to developers, industry or research organisations to perform Research and Development (R&D). They will be able to respond to the call for tenders launched by consortia of procurers funded under this topic. Proposals under this topic should support the development of innovative solutions, tools and models to enhance surveillance, prediction, prevention, risk management and diagnosis (e.g. testing), supporting the adaptation, resilience, and preparedness of healthcare systems and populations to climatic and climate-related environmental health risks. More specifically proposals can support any of the areas listed below: Geospatial technologies and decision-support frameworks that help local authorities and healthcare providers track at “high resolution” and better manage direct and indirect health risks related to climate change. Real-time risk surveillance and early-warning technologies and monitoring tools that provide critical information for timely decision-making and responses related to the health risks of climate change. Technologies and solutions that facilitate the transition to climate-resilient healthcare facilities and services. Activities targeting the general infrastructure (e.g. ventilation, construction or refurbishment) are out of scope. Technologies, tools, procedures and solutions for health risk management, prevention and resilience, enhancing strategies and interventions for health adaptation to climate change in communities and occupational settings.

What this means for cities and regions

Public authorities and healthcare providers acting as a buyers' group — regional health authorities, city public-health departments, hospitals. Topic budget €20 million; 4 grants expected; €4 million–€5 million per project. Opens 10 February 2027; closes 13 April 2027. Heat-health warning, air-quality and vector-borne disease early-warning tools are built on Copernicus climate and atmosphere data.