ECHOS II - EUREGHA

July 1, 2026

Establishing Cancer Mission Hubs: beyond Networks and Synergies

Funding programme: Horizon Europe

Call: HORIZON-MISS-2025-02

Topic: HORIZON-MISS-2025-02-CANCER-06

Project coordinator: AICIB – Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation, Portugal

Partners: 57 beneficiaries, one affiliated entity and three associated partners from across Europe and associated countries

Starting date: 1 July 2026

Duration: 60 months

Total budget: €15,079,639.52

Role of EUREGHA: Regional and local stakeholder engagement, co-leader of Task 7.2 and project partner

About ECHoS II

Cancer remains one of Europe’s most urgent health challenges, with the number of cases projected to exceed 3.24 million by 2040. Addressing this challenge requires coordinated action connecting research, healthcare, public policy and society across all levels of governance.

National Cancer Mission Hubs are designed to bring these different communities together. They connect policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, patients, citizens, civil society and the private sector, helping translate the objectives of the EU Mission on Cancer into coordinated national, regional and local action.

ECHoS II builds on the foundations established by the first ECHoS project between 2023 and 2026. While the first phase developed and tested the National Cancer Mission Hub model, the new project will focus on consolidating existing Hubs, supporting the development of additional Hubs and establishing a structured and sustainable European network.

Through training, peer learning, stakeholder engagement, demonstrator activities and stronger cooperation across governance levels, ECHoS II will help National Cancer Mission Hubs move from individual initiatives towards more mature, interconnected and sustainable cancer ecosystems.

From national Hubs to a European network

ECHoS II marks a transition from establishing individual National Cancer Mission Hubs to connecting them within a more structured European ecosystem.

The project will support Hubs through a common maturity pathway, helping them assess their development, strengthen their governance and improve their capacity to coordinate Cancer Mission activities. Structured training will be delivered through the ECHoS Academy, complemented by peer learning, country visits and knowledge-exchange activities.

A formal European Network of National Cancer Mission Hubs will also be established. The network will provide a shared governance framework, strategic vision, services and mechanisms for long-term cooperation and sustainability.

At the same time, the project will apply a Penta Helix approach, bringing together public authorities, research and education, healthcare and civil society, industry, and patients and citizens. Demonstrator activities will show how collaboration between these groups can support more effective, inclusive and locally relevant cancer policies and solutions.

Goals And Objectives

ECHoS II aims to consolidate the European Network of National Cancer Mission Hubs as a key implementation mechanism for the EU Mission on Cancer.

The project will:

strengthen the operational and strategic capacity of National Cancer Mission Hubs;
support existing Hubs in progressing towards greater maturity and sustainability;
assist countries where National Cancer Mission Hubs have not yet been established;
improve coordination between European, national, regional and local actors;
strengthen the involvement of patients, citizens and other stakeholders in cancer policy and innovation;
promote knowledge exchange, training and peer learning between Hubs;
develop stronger connections between regional cancer ecosystems and national structures;
test multi-stakeholder approaches through practical demonstrator activities;
reinforce synergies with other European cancer initiatives, research infrastructures and EU Missions; and
establish a formal European network capable of continuing beyond the lifetime of the project.

These activities will help translate the EU Mission on Cancer into measurable benefits for citizens while contributing to more equitable cancer outcomes across Europe.

Our Contribution

As a project partner, EUREGHA will ensure that regional and local health authorities are actively connected with National Cancer Mission Hubs and the wider implementation of the EU Mission on Cancer.

Together with ERRIN, EUREGHA will co-lead activities dedicated to deepening engagement with the regional and local level. Through EUREGHA’s network and Working Group on Cancer, the project will engage regional health authorities, oncology networks, healthcare providers, research and innovation ecosystems, patient communities and other relevant territorial stakeholders.

EUREGHA will contribute to:

identifying barriers and enabling factors affecting cooperation between National Cancer Mission Hubs and regional cancer ecosystems;
gathering experiences from urban, rural, remote and outermost regions;
examining existing models of multi-level governance and coordination;
connecting regional activities with national Cancer Mission implementation;
organising two dedicated EUREGHA and ERRIN workshops focused on practical examples, knowledge exchange and peer learning;
developing actionable and transferable guidelines for integrating regional and local actors into National Cancer Mission Hub activities;
supporting capacity-building activities, country exchanges and policy dialogues; and
disseminating project results across European regional and local health communities.

Through these activities, EUREGHA will help ensure that National Cancer Mission Hubs are not developed only as national structures, but as inclusive ecosystems connected to the authorities and organisations responsible for implementing cancer prevention, care, research and innovation on the ground.

Work Packages and Key Activities

ECHoS II is organised around 20 work packages covering the full project cycle, from coordination and impact monitoring to capacity building, implementation, communication and long-term sustainability.

The main areas of activity include:

Project coordination and governance: supporting effective project implementation, strategic oversight and cooperation with European institutions and cancer initiatives.
Monitoring and impact: developing common indicators and tools to assess the progress, maturity and impact of National Cancer Mission Hubs.
Regional and international outreach: connecting National Cancer Mission Hubs with regional ecosystems and expanding cooperation with associated and international partners.
The ECHoS Academy: providing training, online courses and advanced learning programmes on mission-oriented cancer innovation.
Synergies and connectivity: strengthening connections with EU cancer initiatives, the European Health Data Space, research infrastructures, cancer registries and other EU Missions.
Implementation and capacity building: supporting the establishment, recognition and continuous development of National Cancer Mission Hubs.
Creation of the European network: developing the network’s governance, strategy, services and long-term sustainability model.
Penta Helix demonstrators: testing multi-stakeholder approaches to personalised cancer prevention and the use of real-world evidence.
Communication and dissemination: strengthening the ability of National Cancer Mission Hubs to communicate their work and influence policy.
Stakeholder and citizen engagement: organising Cancer Mission Fairs, National Cancer Mission Hub Summits and innovative outreach activities.

Together, these activities will provide National Cancer Mission Hubs with the structures, skills, partnerships and evidence needed to support the implementation of the EU Mission on Cancer at European, national, regional and local levels.