As the European Union prepares its new life sciences strategy, the HALRIC project offers valuable insights and concrete experience that could serve as a foundation for shaping future policies.
HALRIC stands as a best-practice model for sustainable, cross-border scientific collaboration, supported by a robust, multi-level funding ecosystem that includes regional authorities, life science clusters, research institutions and hospitals. This collaborative structure closely aligns with the aspirations of the EU’s forthcoming strategy, which seeks to unlock Europe’s innovation potential by removing barriers to transnational research and simplifying access to infrastructure and funding.
The Ministry of Science, Research, Equalities and Districts in Hamburg—project partner and lead of HALRIC’s policy work (WP 4.2)—highlighted this in its recent contribution to the EU life sciences strategy call for evidence. The Ministry emphasised HALRIC’s role as an ambitious initiative connecting leading organisations in the Öresund-Kattegat-Skagerrak (ÖKS)-Hamburg life science region:
“With an innovative, interdisciplinary approach, HALRIC connects researchers in industry, universities and hospitals with large-scale research infrastructures (MAX IV, DESY, European XFEL and ESS) and cutting-edge complementary infrastructures in the region.”
We are pleased to share below the key aspects outlined in the Ministry’s contribution. The full version is available here.
A regional innovation hub for Europe
As former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta recently proposed in his vision of a “fifth freedom” for Europe—focusing on the free movement of research, innovation and education—HALRIC offers a tangible, regional manifestation of this idea. The establishment of a transnational regional innovation hub for life sciences in the HALRIC region could be a key implementation measure.
This proposed innovation hub would build on HALRIC’s unique capabilities and existing funding structures, combining regional, national and EU-level support. It would introduce a dedicated financial instrument designed to accelerate cross-border research collaboration and promote competitiveness within the single market.
But financial backing is only one part of the equation. The hub would also serve as a “living lab” for innovation, implementing regulatory sandboxes to test and refine optimal conditions for scientific progress and cross-border cooperation. This approach aims to streamline regulations, reduce fragmentation, and foster a pan-European innovation ecosystem that is competitive on a global scale.
A scalable model for broader European impact
HALRIC’s strengths lie in its diversity and its commitment to fostering interdisciplinary collaboration—an inherently complex challenge that requires long-term strategic vision and dedicated support. The consortium’s ability to bring together stakeholders from academia, healthcare, industry, and infrastructure places it in a prime position to host such a hub.
The resulting model could serve as a template for other European regions, particularly those with similar cross-border research assets. A European life science strategy that draws on HALRIC’s experience can create the enabling conditions needed for breakthrough discoveries, cutting-edge investment, and dynamic public-private collaboration.
Shaping Europe’s innovation future
As the EU refines its life sciences strategy, HALRIC offers a real-world example of how to put the European ambition into practice. With coordinated effort and strategic alignment, HALRIC demonstrates how to unlock untapped potential, empower researchers, and build a truly integrated European life science ecosystem.
By integrating lessons from HALRIC into the EU’s broader policy framework—including the upcoming Biotech Act, the future Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10), and the ESFRI Roadmap—Europe can take a decisive step towards becoming a global leader in life sciences innovation.