Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (IMI2 Joint Undertaking)
The European Parliament adopted by 560 votes to 104, with 9 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a Council regulation on the Innovative Medicines Initiative 2 Joint Undertaking (IMI2).
Parliament approved the Commission proposal subject to the following amendments:
Joint Undertaking: for the implementation of the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines, the IMI2 Joint Undertaking should be established until 31 December 2024. In order to take into account the duration of the Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, calls for proposals under IMI2 should be launched at the latest by 31 December 2020. In duly justified cases calls for proposals may be launched until 31 December 2021.
IMI 2 Joint Undertaking should support the development and implementation of pre-competitive research and of innovation activities of strategic importance to the Union's competitiveness and industrial leadership or to address specific societal challenges, and in particular to improving European citizens' health and well-being.
Members added that the Joint Undertaking should contribute to the objectives of the Joint Technology Initiative on Innovative Medicines, in particular to, where possible, reduce the time to reach clinical proof of concept in medicine development, such as for cancer.
It is stipulated that the Joint Undertaking should:
- contribute to the closing of the research and innovation divide within the Union by promoting synergies with the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF);
- seek to foster the capacity of smaller actors such as research organisations, universities and SMEs for participating in open innovation models and to promote the involvement of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) in its activities.
Financial contributions: the maximum Union contribution, including EFTA appropriations, to the IMI2 Joint Undertaking to cover administrative costs and operational costs shall be EUR 1 638 million which should consist of the following:
- up to EUR 1 425 million to match the contribution of EFPIA, or its constituent entities or their affiliated entities;
- up to EUR 213 million to match additional contributions from other Members, Associated Partners, or from their constituent or their affiliated entities.
In-kind contributions consisting of costs incurred in third countries other than countries associated to Horizon 2020 should be justified and relevant and should not exceed 30% at the level of the IMI2 programme of the eligible costs incurred by the Members other than the Union and the Associated Partners.
Openness and transparency: in order to facilitate participation, the calls for proposals launched by the Joint Undertaking should also be published on the single portal for participants as well as through other Horizon 2020 electronic means of dissemination managed by the Commission.
The IMI2 Joint Undertaking should operate in an open and transparent way providing all relevant information in a timely manner to its appropriate bodies as well as promoting its activities, including information and dissemination activities to the wider public.
Discharge: in view of the specific nature and the current status of the Joint Undertakings, and in order to ensure continuity with the 7th Framework Programme, the Joint Undertakings should continue to be subject to a separate discharge.
Simplification: for the purpose of simplification, administrative burdens should be reduced for all parties. Double audits and disproportionate documentation and reporting should be avoided.
Scientific Panel for Health: this Group has been set up by Horizon 2020 as a science-led stakeholder platform in order to elaborate scientific input, provide a coherent scientific focused analysis of research and innovation bottlenecks and opportunities related to the Horizon 2020 societal challenge on health, demographic change and well-being.
Members proposed that the IMI2 Joint Undertaking should, therefore, collaborate and exchange information with it, where appropriate.
Evaluation: by 30 June 2017, the Commission should carry out, with the assistance of independent experts, an interim evaluation of the IMI2 Joint Undertaking, and send a report to the European Parliament and to the Council by 31 December 2017. The results of the interim evaluation of the Joint Undertaking shall be taken into account in the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020.