IHI session at EHFG 2026
Regulatory sandboxes as innovation partnerships
Regulatory sandboxes mark a shift towards structured regulatory experimentation. They are established – in Europe and globally – to encourage and manage health innovations at the convergence of technical fields (artificial intelligence, medical devices, new treatment modalities) or where science moves apace. Regulatory sandboxes can be framed as partnerships, a mechanism for the public sector to stimulate and derisk innovation and investment in critical areas or technologies.
However, while the new regulations are creating opportunities for innovative solutions in European health and care, they are also creating new questions: how large is a sandbox? Who can enter? What is the involvement and oversight of civil society? How long can an innovation be left in the sandbox and how is it transitioned into routine care?
This session will explore regulatory sandboxes from the perspective of industry, regulators, healthcare, and policymakers – capturing early experiences – and develop recommendations for the European health innovation systems. It will also touch on the role of regulatory science as an incentive and attractor for investments in a sharpened global competition.
Meet the speakers
- Niklas Blomberg - Executive Director, Innovative Health Initiative JU (moderator)
- Rosa Castro - Public Affairs Director, EURORDIS
- Natalie Cohen - Head of the Regulatory Governance for Global Challenges Unit, OECD
- François Hebraud - EU Regulatory Policy Lead, Roche
- Olga Solomon - Head of Unit 'Medicines: policy, authorisation and monitoring' in the European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety
- Steffen Thirstrup - Chief Medical Officer, European Medicines Agency
When and where
- When: Friday 2 October | 11:00-12:15
- Where: Conference Centre
- Find out more: Visit the session web page on the EHFG website
About the European Health Forum Gastein
The EHFG remains the foremost European forum for health outcomes-oriented discussions that strive to inspire bold action, exploring future-facing topics in politically turbulent times and offering space for controversial conversations and out-of-the-box thinking from which creative restructuring and disruptive ideas may grow.
The theme of the 2026 edition is 'Health for a stronger European Union – high time for action!'
Find out more
- Visit the event website