Funding of €135 million for scientific innovation projects in AI and health

A historic budget commitment to transform the health sector and contribute to the revitalization of the industrial fabric

Last November, the Spanish government presented the Strategic Project for Economic Recovery and Transformation (PERTE) for cutting-edge health, a set of measures to drive innovation in the National Health System. The planned investment amounts to 1.469 billion euros for the period 2021-2023.

One of the strategic objectives of the PERTE is to develop a data system – collection, integration and – aimed at the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of diseases of every patient. Based on this objective, three actions are being launched in the field of artificial intelligence: the AI R&D mission program in the health sector, the integration of AI in value chains of the health sector, and the creation of a multidisciplinary centre for the application of AI in technologies applied to health.

Financial aid for research

The AI R&D Mission Program 2021 is intended to provide financial support for industrial research projects that use AI in one of the key sectors of the programme, including health. The aim is to meet the challenge of anticipating the main physical and mental illnesses with ultra-fast action. The planned investment is 14.28 million euros.

Transformation of the economic fabric

The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (ENIA), as a commitment to EU policies, defines the framework for developing sectoral, state and regional plans and strategies in this area. The ENIA wants to address the major social challenges in strategic areas for the country, one of which is health. An initiative will be established to drive the use of AI in value chains that will enable a transformation of the economic fabric. The PERTE will allocate an investment of 21.42 million euros.

Multidisciplinary AI centre for health

Another measure contemplated by the ENIA is the creation of a multidisciplinary centre to promote scientific research that deepens the knowledge of AI and the development of new techniques, areas or applications that can be transferred to the field of production and the public sector. The planned investment is 100 million euros with a private financing of 60%.

The total investment in actions aimed at scientific research in AI in health and its transfer to the industrial fabric amounts to €135.7 million. These measures are estimated to have an impact on the creation of up to 1,527 jobs.