Innovation funding

On November 20, 2025, the Institute for the Hospital Remuneration System (InEK) published the DRG catalog (Fallpauschalen-Katalog), which includes the list of DRGs and additional reimbursement categories (ZEs) for 2026. Five new DRGs were introduced in the diagnostic imaging, men’s health, nephrology and urology, and radiotherapy fields. No new MedTech-related ZE categories were added to the catalog.

In September 2025, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) awarded eighteen projects under the first round of the Medical Specialist Care and Research program concerning e-health, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and interventional radiology areas.

On September 1, 2025, the Institute for Hospital Remuneration Systems (INeK) announced the start of the application process according to §6 (2) KHEntgG (New Examination and Treatment Methods, NUB) for 2026.

In August 2025, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) awarded seventeen projects under the subsidy round “Preparatory implementation activities Round 1” of the Appropriate Care Framework program. Awarded projects include e-health, men’s health, in-vitro diagnostic, and other fields.

In July 2025, the Dutch Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) awarded twelve projects under the 2026 round of the Efficiency Research program concerning e-health, diagnostic imaging, gastrointestinal, endoscopy, orthopedics, gynecology, pulmonology, and cardiology fields.

On July 16, 2025, the UK Government published the Life Sciences Sector Plan, which outlines targeted actions to support world-class research and development, attract investment, and accelerate health innovation and NHS reform. The key actions to ensure faster access to clinically and cost-effective technologies include implementing the Rules-Based Pathway for MedTech, “Innovator Passport”, national standard guidance on value-based procurement for MedTech, and “HealthStore” (coverage of approved health apps for patients).

On July 9, 2025, the NHS Cancer Programme granted £14.4 million to seven projects through the third Innovation Open Call. The projects aimed to fast-track the implementation of proven, late-stage innovations for the early detection and diagnosis of cancer.

On June 20, 2025, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published the determined funding priorities for healthcare research projects (seven topics) and clinical guidelines (three topics).

On July 1, 2025, the revised EBM (German Uniform Evaluation Standard) catalog for the third quarter of 2025 came into force. The main changes introduced concern updates of the contents (services legends, preambles of several EBM subchapters) and the introduction of new EBM codes for the reimbursement of transmitters for telemonitoring and telemedical monitoring of implantable cardiac devices, as well as codes for the services provided within the co-funded study on low-dose pulsed ultrasound for pseudarthrosis.

On May 26, 2025, the Innovation Committee at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) announced that 49 applications for innovation funding of healthcare research projects were accepted.

In late May 2025, the Innovation Committee of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) published decisions recommending the transfer of several completed healthcare research and new forms of care projects into standard care. These projects addressed a range of topics, including a web-based self-help program for relatives of individuals with depressive disorders, strengthening crisis resilience in outpatient medical practices, and structured aftercare following bariatric surgery.

In May 2025, the Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sport provided further details on terminating "Subsidy Scheme for Promising Care". The program will be discontinued as of January 1, 2026, without any follow-up measures or financing. No new rounds for submission of proposals will be available. Nothing will change for the 28 ongoing projects and projects expected to be awarded later in 2025 as a result of the last completed rounds.