Establishing Ortho and Cardiology Ambulatory Surgical Centres in Europe

The main goal of this grant is to establish Ambulatory Surgical Centres (ASCs) specializing in orthopaedics and cardiology across Europe. This initiative aims to relieve pressure on hospitals, reduce the risk of hospital-acquired infections, and promote innovation in the health sector. Focus areas include building a sustainable ASC network, developing digital tools for patient care, and introducing new payment and accreditation systems. The program also seeks to collect real-world evidence showing the cost-effectiveness of ASCs compared to traditional hospital procedures. The opportunity is open to projects located in Europe, with the exception of legal entities from the UK and Canada.

• Develop a Europe-wide, evidence-based framework to establish ASCs for joint replacement and cardiac procedures, including infrastructure, protocols, and care pathways
• Launch training programmes for healthcare providers and develop interoperable digital solutions to support full patient journeys and home recovery
• Generate clinical and economic evidence through registries to support ASC integration into health systems and inform reimbursement policies
• Build a sustainable ASC network and establish regional/national ASC associations to standardise care, support accreditation, and drive policy alignment
• Engage stakeholders to overcome barriers in regulation, funding, acceptance, and patient readiness, improving healthcare capacity, efficiency, and patient outcomes across Europe

Examples:

• A partnership setting up a digital-ready orthopaedic ASC in Germany to handle outpatient surgeries.
• A project in France developing an interoperable patient care system for cardiology ASCs.
• A consortium in Spain piloting new payment models for ambulatory surgical procedures in a network of ASCs.

• Personnel costs
• Subcontracting
• Travel and subsistence
• Equipment (depreciation or rental)
• Consumables and materials
• Dissemination and communication
• Access to research infrastructure
• IPR and certification
• Audit costs
• Indirect costs (25% flat rate)
• Internally invoiced services

• Budget for this Call: 12,351,000€
• Number of Grants attributed: 1
• Budget per grant: 12,351,000€

• Applicants must be legal entities established in eligible European countries.
• Entities from the UK and Canada are not eligible for funding.
• Applicants must demonstrate both financial and operational capacity.
• All required annexes and supporting documents must be submitted with the application.
• Project proposals must align with the goals of establishing ASCs in orthopaedics and cardiology, and integrating digital solutions.
• Applicants are encouraged to consult the Horizon Europe Programme Guide and IHI JU Work Programme for detailed requirements.