European Commission President von der Leyen highlights AI-supported mammography as a model for “AI for Health”

In her 2026 State of the Union address to the European Parliament on 16 September, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chose breast cancer screening as a leading example of how artificial intelligence can transform healthcare in Europe. She noted that breast cancer screening already reduces mortality by around 30-40% among women who participate and argued that AI can further improve outcomes by helping detect cancers earlier and more accurately, enabling more women to survive the disease.

At the same time, she stressed that Europe must pursue this transformation “in a European way”, with AI supporting clinicians rather than replacing them. As she put it: “AI needs to empower our doctors. Not to replace them.”

Von der Leyen identified healthcare as one of the highest-value sectors for AI deployment, highlighting both its transformative potential and Europe’s wealth of high-quality health data.

EIBIR coordinates Europe’s flagship AI and cancer initiatives

In line with this mission, the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR), established by and headquartered at the European Society of Radiology (ESR) coordinates the implementation of flagship initiatives under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Apply AI Strategy. These initiatives seek to develop the infrastructure, connect high-quality datasets and establish guidance for the safe clinical deployment of AI, reflecting the “European way” of using health data responsibly while fostering innovation.

Cancer Image Europe (EUCAIM), the federated European infrastructure for cancer imaging data implementing the European Cancer Imaging Initiative and co-funded under the Digital Europe Programme provides a secure, GDPR- and EHDS-compliant cross-border architecture enabling datasets to be discovered, accessed and used for AI training and validation without centralising patient-identifiable data. This exemplifies the “European way” of using health data responsibly while fostering innovation. IIS La Fe holds the scientific coordination of EUCAIM, led by Dr. Martí-Bonmatí, Director of the Medical Imaging Department at La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital, while UPV, through Prof. Ignacio Blanquer, provides the technical leadership of EUCAIM’s central infrastructure hub.

EUCAIM has become the trusted infrastructure for a growing number of research and implementation projects.

Among them the BreastSCan project, also coordinated by EIBIR and co-funded under the EU4Health Programme, builds on EUCAIM to train and validate AI tools for image quality assessment, risk stratification, lesion detection and breast density classification. The project also promotes the AI literacy needed for clinicians to use these technologies safely and effectively. BreastSCan is assembling one of the world’s largest and most diverse breast imaging datasets, comprising more than one million mammography, ultrasound and MRI images from over 7,500 confirmed breast cancer cases. Prof. Francesco Sardanelli from La Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro i Tumori (IT), acts as scientific coordinator and Dr. Carlos Telleria from Instituto Aragnes de Ciencias de la Salud (ES) acts as technical coordinator.

Another flagship initiative driven by the radiology community is COMPASS AI, which aims to promote the responsible and effective integration of AI into clinical practice. The project is scientifically coordinated by Prof. Prof. Regina Beets-Tan, University of Maastricht (NL), and Laurens Topff, MD PhD, at the Dutch National Cancer Institute (NL) with EIBIR as project management partner. It focuses on two priority areas: cancer care and healthcare delivery in remote and underserved regions. Bringing together hospitals, professional societies and major European AI-health initiatives, COMPASS AI will establish an interactive platform to share best practices, support knowledge exchange and develop guidance on AI deployment. The project will also contribute to strengthening AI literacy among healthcare professionals, hospital managers and patients.

EIBIR in support of Europe’s AI strategy

EIBIR is closely engaging with the European Commission to identify and leverage synergies between the projects, and to ensure implementation and dissemination efforts align with the EU’s policy perspectives, supporting the European approach to AI: one that is safe, trustworthy, responsible, accessible and resource-conscious, while delivering tangible benefits for patients and healthcare systems and ensuring Europe’s competitiveness in the field.

For more information on EIBIR of if you would like to work with us to turn your project idea into reality, please reach out to us at office@eibir.org.

On the occation of the first anniversary of the Apply AI Strategy and closing the first edition of the European AI Innovation Month, the European Commission is preparing the Apply AI Summit: 
EUCAIM and Compass AI are invited to participate with a joint booth to present their results!
You can find us in the exhibition area where successful real-world applications of AI solutions in healthcare are featured.

EUropean Federation for CAncer IMages (EUCAIM) is the cornerstone of the European Commission-initiated European Cancer Imaging Initiative, a flagship of Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP), which aims to foster innovation and deployment of digital technologies in cancer treatment and care to achieve more precise and faster clinical decision making, diagnostics, treatment and predictive medicine for cancer patients. EUCAIM’s mission is to build a pan-European digital federated infrastructure of cancer-related images, which will be used for the development of AI tools toward Precision Medicine. We hope that this infrastructure will provide the means to develop AI tools that will be able to enhance the (cancer) diagnosis procedure, treatment and the identification of the need for predictive medicine benefiting patients across Europe.
Get in touch with EUCAIM by email: contact@cancerimage.eu
Visit the project website for more information: https://cancerimage.eu/

Community Of Multidisciplinary Professionals Advancing Safe and Successful AI Implementation in Clinical Practice (Compass AI) is a 48-month project co-funded by the European Union under the EU4Health programme 2021–2027 aiming to overcome critical barriers to the safe and effective deployment of AI in healthcare by developing scalable, equitable solutions, with a focus on cancer care and remote regions.The project will build upon FUTURE-AI, an established framework for trustworthy AI in healthcare according to six guiding principles: fairness, universality, traceability, usability, robustness, and explainability. By integrating insights from the expert community, best-practice AI deployment guidelines will be defined and validated through four real-world pilot studies conducted across European countries, in diverse healthcare settings and clinical practices.
Get in touch with Compass AI by email: info@compassai.eu
Visit the project website for more information: http://compassai.eu/

The Apply AI Summit aims to showcase how trustworthy, human-centric AI is driving competitiveness in key sectors of the European economy, with panel discussions and hands-on demonstrations. Healthcare is one of the priority sectors that will be featured, and one of the main discussion topics of the event will be accelerating the adoption of AI in strategic sectors, including healthcare.

🌟Where? At The EGG in Brussels
🌟When? On November 17, 2026

More information on the program is available here: https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/apply-ai-summit

The European Commission has reopened its call for healthcare organisations to join the European Network of AI-Powered Advanced Screening Centres, a flagship of the Apply AI Strategy expected to cover all EU Member States by the end of 2029.

Joining the Network offers organisations the opportunity to become part of a growing European community dedicated to ensuring the safe, effective and trustworthy use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Centres can participate in piloting AI solutions in clinical environments and collaborative studies on AI performance.

270 healthcare organisations have already joined the Network in the first call.

If your institution has not yet become a member, there is still time to express your interest and apply!

 Click to apply by 10 September!

  Click to find more information! Please note at the bottom the list of benefits for centres and link to the terms of reference.

This is an excellent opportunity for hospitals, research institutions, screening centres and healthcare organisations across Europe to contribute to the future of innovative healthcare and collaborate with peers at the European level.

The European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR) is pleased to host dedicated booth sessions at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2027 in Vienna/Austria on 3-7 March 2027, showcasing cutting-edge research in biomedical imaging.

These booth sessions will feature oral poster presentations selected from submissions to the EIBIR category*, offering researchers a unique platform to present and discuss their work. This will provide the presenters with another opportunity to increase the visibility of their work in the EIBIR research community and the biomedical imaging landscape.

Poster submissions are invited to the following EIBIR topics:

• AI in Radiology (AI, oncologic, cardiovascular and neuro-imaging)
• Emerging technologies
• Hybrid imaging in oncology and cardiovascular disease
• Integrated diagnostics
• Multidisciplinary research and collaboration

All submitted posters undergo a thorough review process by esteemed members of the EIBIR Scientific Advisory Board, ensuring that high-quality, impactful research is presented. Selected authors will have the opportunity to deliver a short oral presentation of their poster at the EIBIR booth during ECR 2027, providing greater visibility and engagement with the ECR audience. Selected authors will be informed in due time about their participation. The best poster will also be awarded with the EIBIR Poster Award.

We encourage all researchers to submit their work for EIBIR Booth Sessions and to take part in this exciting opportunity at ECR 2027.

Join us to explore innovative projects and connect with leading experts in the field.

Abstract submission will run from 3 August to 30 September 2026.

Authors submitting an abstract for the EIBIR Booth Sessions are kindly requested to follow the submission steps below:

1. Under Preferred Presentation Format, please select Poster Presentation.
2. Under Poster Presentation Format, choose EIBIR Booth Session.
3. Finally, select the relevant topic from the list provided above under Topic.

To submit your poster abstract, click here.

If you have any questions on the EIBIR Booth Sessions, please contact the EIBIR team at office@eibir.org.

Due to popular demand, we are opening the CARE Study workshop for online participation!

European Commission SAMIRA Study Workshop on updated criteria for acceptability of medical radiological equipment – The workshop aims to present our proposal for an updated and extended list of acceptability criteria and to further consult with Member States and other stakeholders on the proposed document to be published in the European Commission’s Radiation Protection Series. The consortium combines experts from EIBIR, EFOMP, EANM and ESR.

Workshop dates: 1 June (13:00-18:00 CEST) – 2 June (09:00-16:00 CEST)

Study information and workshop programme: link

Participation is free of charge. Registration required 

We are happy to be sharing with you dedicated sessions and other activities hosted by EIBIR at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2026, taking place from March 4–8, 2026, in Vienna and online via ESR Connect. This year’s congress is also a special milestone for EIBIR, as we celebrate our 20th anniversary! (See EIBIR Studio Sessions below)

EIBIR Sessions

EIBIR 4a – Novel approaches for trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer diagnostics and treatment
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 13:00–14:30 | Room 01
Explore pioneering AI research from RadioVal, ODELIA, BreastSCan, and COMPASS-AI, focusing on ethical, explainable, and validated AI applications for cancer care.

EIBIR 6 – Assistive technologies for interventional radiologists: enhancing decision-making and workflow with AI-powered solutions
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 16:30–17:30 | Room 01
Find out how the SHERPA project is developing human-centred, AI-powered tools to support interventional radiologists, improving workflow, precision, and clinical outcomes.

EIBIR 8 – Transforming cardiovascular risk prediction with AI: from models to real-world impact
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 | Room 01
Learn how the AI-POD project is advancing AI-driven cardiovascular risk prediction, combining clinical insight, ethical perspectives, and real-world validation to bring AI from research to practice.

HOW 8 – How we do it: clinical audit
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 | Open Forum 1
A special presentation of the CLAUD-IT project, engage with some of Europe’s leading experts on clinical audit for a discussion of the project’s methodology and guidance for implementation with an aim for improved procedures and broader adoption in clinical practice.

EIBIR 11 – Cancer Image Europe: a pan-European federated infrastructure for cancer images
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 16:30–18:00 | Room 01
Discover the latest developments from EUCAIM and the Cancer Image Europe platform, including progress towards establishing a European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) for cancer imaging data sharing and AI development.

EIBIR 13 – Strengthening the screening of lung cancer in Europe: key achievements, lessons learned, and legacy of the SOLACE project
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 09:30–11:00 | Room 01
Learn how the SOLACE project is shaping the future of lung cancer screening across Europe, breaking down barriers to access and ensuring sustainability and equity in early detection.

EIBIR 15 – Advancements in medical imaging technologies: photonics research
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 13:45–14:45 | Audio Streaming Area
Discover breakthrough innovations from the HyperProbe and Med-IPUT projects, showcasing photonics-based imaging for neurosurgery and medical ultrasound, revolutionising precision imaging technologies.

EIBIR 16 – Improving quality and safety through collaborative EU-funded research and studies: the SAMIRA initiative
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 16:00–17:30 | Room 01
In collaboration with the European Commission and EuroSafe Imaging, this session highlights projects including RHYTHM, MARLIN, CARE, CLAUD-IT, and others driving excellence in radiation protection, safety, and quality assurance across Europe.

EIBIR Booth Sessions (onsite only, Austria Center level 1)

EIBIR IHI – IHI in a nutshell: a public–private research partnership for health
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 14:00–15:00
Insights into IHI’s public‑private research projects advancing innovative solutions to Europe’s key health challenges.

EIBIR/ESR – ESR Research Seed Grant global session
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 10:15–11:15
Multiple speaker session exploring pilot projects on sustainable, AI‑enhanced radiology from Egypt, Nigeria and Ghana.

EIBIR 1 – EIBIR Stage bonus session 1
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 11:30–12:30
Multiple speaker session exploring multidisciplinary research and collaboration.

EIBIR 2 – EIBIR Stage bonus session 2
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 11:30–12:30
Multiple speaker session exploring hybrid imaging in oncology, emerging technologies, and multidisciplinary research and collaboration.

EIBIR 3 – EIBIR Stage bonus session 3
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 15:00–16:00
Multiple speaker session exploring AI in oncology.

EIBIR 4b – EIBIR Stage bonus session 4
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 14:00–15:00
Multiple speaker session exploring AI in oncology.

EIBIR Studio Sessions (online only, open access)

ST 3 – Building the future of Cancer AI: Data, platform, and practice
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 9:30–10:00 | Studio Streaming Area
Dive into a session with EUCAIM, BreastSCan, and COMPASS-AI, three EU-funded projects defining the strategic European roadmap for AI in cancer imaging.

ST 4 – Celebrating 20 Years of EIBIR: Insights from Prof. Regina Beets-Tan
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 12:30–13:00 | Studio Streaming Area
Join us to  celebrate EIBIR’s 20th anniversary and the institute’s achievements in EU-funded biomedical imaging research, plus a presentation of EIBIR’s new Strategic Research Agenda!

ST 14 – The European Lung Cancer Screening Alliance (ELCSA): ensuring continuity and impact beyond SOLACE
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 15:30–16:00 | Studio Streaming Area
Explore how SOLACE and the newly formed ELCSA are driving a Europe‑wide push for equitable, accessible lung cancer screening for all.

EUCAIM Demonstration Sessions (onsite only, Austria Center level 1)

DS 1 – From raw images to research‑ready data: tools and workflow for cancer imaging
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 13:45
Join us for a great EUCAIM demonstration session with Carina Soler, covering everything from data preparation steps: original data context, image annotation, de-identification, data quality checks, ETL processes, and data transfer.

DS 2 – Sovereign image data sharing with EUCAIM: build your node
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 11:45
In this demonstration from Ignacio Blanquer, you will gather information on the type of tools for configuring a federated node that allows data sharing within the EUCAIM federation. You will also learn more about the intrinsic characteristics and capabilities of a EUCAIM federated node, and how to scale it into a powerful processing node.

Pixel Pandemonium

March 4–7, 2026 | 10:00–17:00 | Foyer K
This exhibit, organised by the ESR and EIBIR and endorsed by MICCAI, offers interactive software demonstrations for showcasing the latest AI and machine-learning tools in the field of medical imaging that will shape the future of healthcare. Demos in the exhibition include 15 software tools showcasing cutting-edge AI technology.

Visit us any time at the EIBIR booth!

The EIBIR booth on Level 1 will showcase the latest results from our EU-funded research projects and highlighting opportunities for collaboration and funding in biomedical imaging.

Join us at ECR 2026 to engage with Europe’s leading experts in imaging research and innovation — and to see how EIBIR-supported projects continue to shape the future of medical imaging!