CIÊNCIA VIVA

REDE CENTROS CIÊNCIA VIVA

The 8 ^th

Gago Conference on European Science Policy

Brussels| November 17 ^th- 18 ^th

2026

[...]. Considerable time should be devoted to setting up a dialogue in each member State on the issue of human resources for science, engineering and technology, helping policy-makers understand what is required, and building bridges between national and European actors. Dialogue between industrial and academic organizations in Europe should also be pursued.

_{José Mariano Gago In "Europe needs more scientists", European Commission, Brussels, 2004}

How can Europe effectively seize the opportunities to decrease cancer deaths under MFF 2028-2034?

A joint organization of The Institut Jules Bordet, the Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI) and Ciência Viva – Portuguese Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture with the European Academy of Cancer Sciences (EACS)

Brussels, November 17th - 18th, 2026

Brief Conference Outline

The 8th Gago Conference on European Science Policy aims to discuss challenges for cancer research and care to inform the current debate in Europe about the definition of the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF 2028-2034) and the related funding programs and institutions, including the expected revisited Cohesion Policy and the future European Framework Program for Research and Innovation, FP-10 (ie, Horizon Europe). Following the initial proposal from the European Commission of July 2025 and the recent review and profound alterations approved by the European Parliament in April 2026, the main budget decisions are expected to involve trilogue negotiations with the final decision to be taken by December 2026. Then, the process will be followed by programmatic decisions in 2027, which will influence many other funding lines and institutional strategies at European, National and Regional levels.

The Conference will bring cancer scientists, oncologists and patient representatives together with policy makers. Together, they will address the opportunities for translational cancer research in Europe. They will look at how to implement such research through competitively selected Comprehensive Cancer Centers across Europe. The aim is to have both translational cancer research and its implementation through such Centres adopted as the primary policy focus for addressing the increasing cancer burden in Europe. The goal is to counteract the present main strategy to convert cancer to a chronic disease.

The need to review the European Mission on Cancer, alongside Europe's Beating Cancer Plan, will be discussed to help prioritizing prevention, early detection and improved treatment with focus on increasing cure rates and enhancing patients' quality of life, especially for those with incurable disease. The discussion is framed in terms of the challenges and opportunities to strengthen and promote changing collective behaviors leading to preparedness, prevention and readiness through collective resilient and cooperative societies throughout Europe.

Background note

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in Europe and is an urgent and escalating challenge. In 2022, there were about 3.2 million new cases and 1.5 million cancer related deaths, highlighting the severity. By 2050, the annual burden could reach 4 million new cases and nearly 2 million cancer related deaths, with similar but increasing trends, above all in Low and Middle-Income Countries (LIMCs), globally .

Analysis has shown that translational cancer research, focusing on individuals at risk for cancer and on cure of cancer patients, should be the primary approach for addressing the increasing cancer burden in Europe. This contrasts with the current main strategy to convert cancer to a chronic disease . From a policy perspective, the translational cancer research continuum should be strengthened.

In 2021, the European Commission (EC) launched two major initiatives that build on its long-standing cancer research funding: Europe's Mission on Cancer (MoC) and Europe's Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP). So far, these initiatives have delivered measurable results beyond those funded by other sources, but to fully realize their potential, there is a need to take concrete actions and policy changes, as well as allocate clear resources to ensure these initiatives' long-term impact and success.

The EU initiatives have driven innovation in cancer prevention, therapeutics, and research by building on earlier reports focused on European cancer research . As a result, the need for translational cancer research and support infrastructures are more visible and national structuring of translational research and international collaborations have increased; quality assurance of CCCs by accreditation programmes has expanded, led by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) and German Cancer Aid, with 79 CCCs accredited throughout Europe; two twinning programs, Heidelberg-Athens and Stockholm-Budapest, are progressing positively; the Central and Eastern European Academy of Oncology, which includes many countries, is under development.

In the meantime, an important development has been driven by the expansion of the cancer strategy from Precision Cancer Medicine, which focuses on personalised treatment, to the broader concept of P4 Cancer Medicine, aiming at a comprehensive and more patient-centered strategy to mitigate the growing cancer burden in the current digital age —Predictive (early identification of disease and prediction of outcomes), Preventive (early intervention), Personalized (individualized healthcare) and Participatory (active patient engagement). Several European research projects have supported screening for early detection with focus on specific cancer diagnoses - more advanced screening programmes could help prevent, identify, and treat early disseminated diseases, by the development of multicancer detection tests.

The EU Mission on Cancer (MoC), alongside Europe's Beating Cancer Plan (EBCP), should be revisited to prioritise prevention, early detection and improved treatment with focus on increasing cure rates and enhancing patients' quality of life, especially for those with incurable disease. The MoC should be strengthened through long-term, sustainable funding of competitively selected Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) integrating cancer care, health care dependent prevention, research and education across Europe to ensure stewardship by problem owners. This is critical to avoid the traditional, fragmented “short-term, project-based funding” structure of the European Commission's collaborative research, which relies on many small projects dispersed across varied institutional contexts. Articulation with frontier research in Europe, supported by the European Research Council (ERC), and with critical innovations, including those sponsored by the European Innovation Council (EIC), becomes paramount

The current goal to establish around 100 CCCs is highly commendable, with each CCC and related networks targeting between 3.5 and 4 million people, following adequate accreditation procedures. In addition, the political ownership of the MoC should ensure adequate coordination/integration with the EBCP, together with appropriate engagement and responsibility on the part of national and European authorities to address policy and implementation actions. In summary, our policy analysis recommends establishing a coherent cancer research continuum to drive therapeutic innovation and strengthen prevention.

Europe now has a unique opportunity to use its knowledge and innovation base to strengthen its strategic autonomy at a world level. This means promoting the future of youth, strengthening the uniqueness of the European welfare systems and fostering science-based competitiveness . It certainly applies to health systems, but it should also mean strengthening Europe's distinctive institutions, including Comprehensive Cancer Centers across Europe. And this can only be achieved with a revisited and strengthened policy approach to translational cancer research and its implementation together with strengthening scientific and technological culture.

n a context of increased uncertainty driven by emerging geopolitical tensions, the 8th Gago Conference on European science Policy will focus on revisited approaches to cancer research and care in Europe. The goal is to guarantee an adequate policy framework under the upcoming MFF 2028-2034 fostering a coherent cancer research continuum to drive therapeutic innovation and strengthen cancer prevention.

Participants of the 8th Gago Conference on European Science Policy are expected to design, discuss and approve the “Brussels Manifesto on Cancer Prevention for Europe, 2026”.

The context: the Gago Conferences on European Science Policy

The Gago Conferences on European Science Policy provide an international forum to strengthen the debate on emerging issues of research and innovation policy in Europe and promote the necessary involvement of major stakeholders in policymaking and the diffusion of knowledge in science education and culture (details at https://www.cienciaviva.pt/gagoconf/home#). The Conferences also seek to strengthen international scientific and technological cooperation networking in Europe towards a positive impact on a global scale. Science and technology (S&T) are key global resources for our collective future, wealth, job creation and shared prosperity at home and abroad. The impact of S&T and innovation result from a collaborative, long-term, collective and uncertain process involving an extensive division of labour, which requires massifying the training of human resources and qualifying the labour force in many economic sectors. Increasing interest in these processes has driven innovative research and practice across various businesses and academic disciplines - from management, marketing, engineering and economics to public policy, sociology, history and law.

"Science is a battle ground, it's not neutral. And if you know it's not neutral, it becomes interesting. It can become part of the modern youth culture. You must choose between generosity and greed, between peace and war, and choose between disclosing or hiding the truth"...

José Mariano Gago (2001)

The primary objective of these conferences is to bring together leading representatives from academic, business, social, cultural and government sectors worldwide to present and discuss current and future issues of critical importance for European science and technology, including their impact on fostering social and economic development and shared prosperity both at home and abroad. Multidisciplinary perspectives are encouraged to provide state-of-the-art and useful knowledge to decision-makers in the private, public and social sectors - including informed and effective education, culture, business, government policies and strategies for Europe.

Organizing Committee of the 8th Gago Conference, Brussels 2026:

Chloe Spilleboudt , The Institut Jules Bordet, The Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B)
Johan Van Lint , Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), KU Leuven & UZ Leuven, Belgium
Manuel Heitor , Center for Innovation, Techn. and Policy Research, IN+@IST, Univ. of Lisbon
Michael Baumann , European Academy of Cancer Sciences (EACS)
Ulrik Ringborg , Karolinska Hospital and Cancer Center, Sweden
Pedro Russo , Ciencia Viva, Portugal

Target participants:

The conference will gather high-level participants and speakers, including:

Policy makers in European member states, the European Commission and the European Parliament, together with leaders of cancer science and innovation in Europe;
Cancer scientists and physicians, research and institutional leaders, as well as philanthropic institutions.
Cancer patients and their organizations
Representatives of young researchers' associations and education institutions
Leaders of science centers across Europe
Representatives of key stakeholders in Europe, including European regions.
Civic entrepreneurs and Citizens

Programme

Day 1: November 17th, 2026

Venue: The Institut Jules Bordet, Brussel`s Comprehensive Cancer Center The Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)

Rue Meylemeersch 90, 1070 Brussels

13:00 - Reception, at The Institut Jules Bordet.

14:00 - Opening Session

Welcome Remarks

Chloe Spilleboudt, The Institut Jules Bordet, The Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B), Belgium
Steven De Vleeschouwer, Leuven Cancer Institute Chairman, Belgium
Pedro Russo, President of Ciência Viva – National Agency for Scientific and Technological Culture, Portugal
Michael Baumann, European Academy of Cancer Sciences, Germany

Brief introductory remarks

"Challenges to Mitigate the Increasing Cancer Problem"
Ulrik Ringborg, Senior Physician, Professor of Oncology, and Director of the Cancer Center Karolinska, Stockholm, Sweden
"Anticipating the Future of Cancer"
Anton Berns, Professor Emeritus, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

Key note lecture

Ekaterina Zarahieva, European Commissionner for Startups, Research and Innovation

Panel Discussion

Commissionner Ekaterina Zarahieva in conversation with Cancer researchers, Ulrik Ringborg, Carolina Espina, Jean-Benoit Burrion, Douglas Hanahan and Sara Faithfull. Moderator: Maryline Fiaschi, Science|Business.

15:00 - Session 1: On the need for Europe to invest in cancer prevention aiming at mitigating the increasing incidence and cancer related deaths

Chair : Richard Sullivan, Professor of Cancer and Global Health at King's College London, and Director of the Institute of Cancer Policy, UK

Brief Introductory Remarks

"Primary Cancer Prevention: Lessons Learned"
Joachim Schüz, Head of the Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, Mainz, Germany
"Patients Views, Identification of Individuals at Risks and Interventions"
Johannes Förner, DKFZ's Patient Advisory Board for Cancer Research, Germany
"Preventing Stomach Cancer, Lessons Learned From the North of Portugal"
Fátima Carneiro and Rosalia Vargas (Preventing stomach cancer, lessons learned from the North of Portugal; video on cancer prevention and science culture campaign).

Panel Discussion:

Lina Galvez (Member of European Parliament, S&D, Spain) in conversation with Cancer experts, Suzette Delaloge, Douglas Hanahan, Josep Tabernero and Mohamad M. Saab
Moderator: Florin Zubascu (or Ole Ellekrog), Science Business

Open Debate

Concluding remarks: Joachim Schüz

16:30 - Coffee break

16:45 - Session 2: On the fundamental roles of Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) in quality assuring multidisciplinary cancer therapy/care and healthcare dependent prevention and in providing the core infrastructure and ecosystem for translational cancer research

Chair: Michael Baumann, EACS

Brief introductory remarks (5 min each):

Jean-Benoit Burrion (On CCCs for translational cancer research)
Nicole Erickson, CCC Munich LMU (On CCCS to guarantee public engagement on prevention)
Pernilla Lagergren (On CCCS to foster health-related quality of life and culture of prevention)
Christian Brandts (On CCCS to guarantee engagement of patients and promoting prevention)

Panel Discussion:

Rene Repasi (Member of European Parliament, S&D, Germany) in conversation with Cancer experts, Angelika Eggert, Simon Oberst, Stefan Fröhling, johannes Förner
Moderator: Pedro Russo, Ciência Viva

Open Debate

Concluding Remarks: Michael Baumann, EACS

18:15 - Closure of day 1 and drinks

20:00 - Dinner

Day 2: November 18th, 2026

Venue: The Institut Jules Bordet, Brussel`s Comprehensive Cancer Center The Hôpital Universitaire de Bruxelles (H.U.B), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)

Rue Meylemeersch 90, 1070 Brussels

8:30 - Reception, at The Institut Jules Bordet.

9:00 - Session 3: Understanding the full translational cancer research continuum so that Europe can invest in it effectively and thereby reduce cancer deaths in an era of knowledge abundance

Chair : Angel Font, La Caixa Foundation, Spain

Bief introductory remarks

"The impact of ERC´s funded frontier cancer research"
Maria Leptin, President of the European Research Council
"The increasing costs for cancer healthcare and funding of clinical cancer research"
Bengt Jönsson, Professor Emeritus, Stockholm School of Economics, Sweden
"Cost-effective cancer medicine, the need of outcomes research"
Nils Wilking, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden