The hybrid event aimed to support the integration of NAMs into “Horizon Europe 2028–2034” and to call on the European Union to launch a large-scale, well-funded European visionary innovation and research program dedicated to accelerating the development,
 validation, and adoption of NAMs in biomedical research and safety testing.

In the beginning of June, the European Commission published its roadmap for phasing out animal testing in chemical assessment. Anton Ussi, Executive Director of EATRIS ERIC, the European ESFRI infrastructure for translational medicine, commented: “NAMs are derived from the patients themselves and can therefore better replicate the human environment. They can help us reduce failure rates. ‘Moonshot for NAMs’ could help coordinate and streamline the validation process.”

The main reason for the lack of adoption of these new methods is not a lack of scientific evidence, but rather a cultural and educational gap, as highlighted in a panel discussion. Additionally, practical barriers include a lack of high-quality data, which requires access. Here, European investment could make a difference. Furthermore, acceptance of NAMs could also reduce the costs of clinical testing.

So far, most stakeholders support the implementation of the roadmap. However, this initiative requires sustained investment. It was reported that, as of 2017, the EU had invested a total of 15 billion euros in NAMs under Horizon Europe. The next program, covering the period from 2028 to 2034, is currently being planned. The European Innovation Council could also play a role here.

European Union Underfunded Compared to Other Countries
The event was based in part on the policy brief titled “A Moonshot for NAMs: Leveraging non-animal methods to position Europe as a global leader in health research,” which was authored by the BioMed21 Collaboration, an international group of scientists, policy experts, and communication specialists.  The group’s goal is to promote human-relevant research to solve urgent health problems, improve patient outcomes, advance science, and reduce dependence on animal testing. The organization is supported by Ombion, DMT10, Tissuse GmbH, the 3R-Center Tübingen, Young TPI, and others.

The BioMed21 Collaboration criticizes the fact that the EU strategy “Choose Europe for life sciences” is supported by only €10 billion annually from various EU funding programs. While NAMs are mentioned in the strategy, targeted funding for them has so far been minimal. The Horizon Europe 2026–2027 work program currently allocates only €50 million for NAMs. This represents a very small share of the total research and innovation budget (approximately €10 billion per year). Compared internationally, the EU is thus underfunded, and current funding is insufficient to ensure international competitiveness and accelerate the impact for patients and industry.

Moonshot: One Billion for NAMs
The BioMed21 Collaboration is proposing a dedicated €1 billion Moonshot program for NAMs under Horizon Europe 2028–2034 and the European Competitiveness Fund. This program is intended to cover all development stages (Technology Readiness Levels, TRLs): from basic research through validation and regulatory qualification to market launch and widespread application. The funding is intended to specifically support validation, infrastructure, training, societal acceptance, and the development of a European NAMs Integration Hub.
The funding is to be linked to clear performance indicators, governance structures, and coordination among existing EU funding instruments. The funding is also intended to specifically address One Health research and societal challenges (e.g., cancer, cardiovascular diseases, antimicrobial resistance).

Source:
BioMed21_MoonShot_PolicyPaper_Dec2025