Exploitation means the use of results in developing, creating and marketing a product or process, or in creating and providing a service, or in the standardisation activities. Exploitation can be commercial, societal, political, or aimed at improving public knowledge and action. It also includes recommendations for policy making (i.e. feedback to policy).
IMI and IHI project partners have a contractual obligation to ensure exploitation of their results for research use and/or direct exploitation either
- by themselves, e.g. for further research or for commercial or industrial exploitation in its own activities, or
- by other beneficiaries or third parties, e.g. through licensing or by transferring the ownership of results.
Not sure where to start? Follow our Field Manual on scaling innovations emerging from public-private partnerships
Our projects have delivered powerful fit-for-purpose solutions, or assets, that have the potential to transform the healthcare industry and improve patient outcomes on a global scale. Deployment of those results in research, regulatory and medical practice beyond the context of EU-funded projects needs to be properly planned and resourced to achieve the desired impact.
This scaling up often falls outside of the project timelines or objectives, but the understanding that both project design and the engagement of stakeholders during the lifetime of the project help determine the success of future deployment drove EFPIA to develop the Field Manual on scaling innovations emerging from public-private partnerships.
Although the Field Manual is based on the experience of several IMI digital health projects, it provides actionable guidance that can be applied to EU projects working in other areas of research. It includes practical advice and solutions on issues such as: how to set a scale-up vision, how to identify drivers, opportunities, challenges, and the capabilities to scale up, and how to determine your project´s optimal scale-up pathway.
The IHI Programme Office held two events on how to use the Field Manual, in September 2024 and in June 2026 . The online masterclasses featured real case studies that can help you design and implement strategies to deploy and scale up your results. Watch the recording and access the presentations of the June 2026 session.
Boost your exploitation potential
Whether your project is funded under IMI or IHI, and whether it is ongoing or closed, you can benefit from the European Commission funded Booster until 2028.
The Booster offers two core services: the Dissemination support service and the Go-to-Market support service, plus four Add-On services (networking, portfolio analysis, public intellectual assets management and public speaking coaching) that can be requested in addition to the Booster core services.
These services are available for both single projects and for project clusters.
Go-to-Market support service
By applying to the Go-to-Market support service, you will receive expert tailor-made support and training, free of charge, to:
- focus on increasing the maturity of your Key Exploitable Results (KERs);
- develop an effective business plan to facilitate market access and achieve impact;
- identify opportunities for further exploitation or reuse of research results.
You can expect guidance in coaching, assessing result maturity, conducting market analysis, performing risk assessments, and identifying key stakeholders and business partners.
To take advantage of the Booster, fill in the application form.
To find out more about the Booster and its services you have two options: either catch up on the info sessions already held (the slides are available for download here and the full recording can be watched online), or register for the upcoming session.
Horizon Standardisation Booster
The Horizon Standardisation Booster is a dedicated service for EU-funded research projects to increase and valorise project results through standardisation. The Horizon Standardisation Booster offers services ranging from early-stage proposal support and short-term mentoring to more advanced assistance for projects ready to engage directly with standards development activities.
The support is free, and IMI /IHI projects can apply for services through open calls.
Discover how six data-driven EU funded projects focusing on cancer (including our IDERHA and BIGPICTURE projects) developed, with support from Horizon Booster, a new standards compliance toolkit - a practical guide for aligning with the European Health Data Space for the secondary use of data.
Showcase your results and attract your target audiences - the Horizon Results Platform
The European Commission-supported Horizon Results Platform provides you with a free, online space to showcase the result(s) of your projects at no cost and in a user-friendly way. The platform is hosted under the Funding & Tenders Portal to make it easy for you to manage your results in a central and safe environment.
By creating your result profile(s), you will be able to reach out to your desired audiences and key stakeholders, whether they are policymakers, investors, research and technology organisations, industry or academia. In order to find your result(s), external visitors will be able to use search criteria.
Depending on the nature and needs of your result(s), the platform can trigger different opportunities and services, ranging from pitching events with investors, possibilities for assistance with your dissemination plans, business development plans, innovation management, IP management, further collaborations, and much more.
The result(s) profile is managed by you.
For any questions, contact EC-HORIZON-RESULTS-PLATFORM@ec.europa.eu.
Read about the experiences of other projects
Read about how two projects are navigating the transition from project to non-profit association here.