The meeting, initiated by Business France, Nordic Infucare and Sanofi, deepens the French‑Swedish collaboration under the renewed Strategic Innovation Partnership, with the ambition of strengthening Sweden’s and France’s role as a European hub for medical innovation.

The European life science sector is facing significant headwinds from geopolitical shifts and new trade and pricing policies, including the US “Most‑Favored‑Nation” (MFN) concept that links drug prices to levels in other countries. Participants at the meeting focused on how to safeguard access to innovative medicines and medical technologies – and how to close the gap between scientific breakthroughs and real‑world implementation in healthcare systems.

The aim is to explore how joint infrastructure, shared models and coordinated investment can strengthen Europe’s preparedness and resilience in the face of future health crises and a shifting geopolitical context.

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Turning shared vision into practical outcomes

In connection with the roundtable, the organizers underlined that shared visions now need to translate into practical outcomes to protect population health, patient benefit and future investment in innovation.

“Through this initiative, we are seeking a deeper dialogue and broader collaboration with the aim of contributing to concrete directions that benefit individuals, healthcare systems and society at large, with the partnership between France and Sweden as a key foundation,” Nordic Infucare, Sanofi and Business France stated in a joint comment. “To maintain a strong position, it is essential that we keep up the pace in efforts to safeguard health and investment in medical innovation, and to enable smooth implementation for the people affected in Sweden.”

Strategic autonomy as a priority

France’s Ambassador to Sweden, H.E. Thierry Carlier, who hosted the discussion, emphasized the importance of cross‑border collaboration in an uncertain geopolitical environment.

“This cooperation between France and Sweden is crucial for building a more resilient European base in life science,” he said. “By joining forces in broad partnerships, we can protect strategic autonomy and secure citizens’ stable access to both tomorrow’s medical breakthroughs and innovative medical technology solutions.”

The dialogue builds on the broader French‑Swedish Strategic Innovation Partnership, which highlights healthcare and life science as priority areas for strengthening European competitiveness and resilience.

Key focus areas for future life science

Against this backdrop, the French‑Swedish partnership is being used as a platform to address several strategic themes at the roundtable:

  • Geopolitics and European competitiveness: How Sweden and France can jointly reinforce Europe’s life science base in a rapidly changing global landscape.
  • Securing investment and incentives: Framework conditions, reimbursement models and measures to retain research, development and manufacturing capacity within Europe.
  • Access and resilient health systems: How to complete the journey “from innovation to implementation” through person‑centred care, digital health and closer, community‑based care structures.

This text was partly produced with the help of AI and fact-checked by NLS.