With a new funding guideline, the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) supports the development of a national network for a federated health data infrastructure in the European Health Data Space (EHDS). The aim is to network existing health data infrastructures and facilitate secure access to health data for research, innovation, and care. Up to 14 million euros are available for the period of 2027 to 2029 .

Especially for Artificial Intelligence in healthcare , the funding creates important prerequisites: High-quality, interoperable, and data protection-compliant health data are a central basis for the development and validation of modern AI applications - for example in personalized medicine, clinical decision support, or medical research. The measure aims to make health data easier, standardized, and secure to access for research and innovation projects in the future.

National network for the EHDS

The focus of the funding is a nationwide collaborative project, which, together with the Data Access and Coordination Center (DACO) at the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), develops technical components, processes, and reference architectures for the secondary use of health data. This includes, among other things, the establishment of a national metadata catalog, standardized application and data provision processes, secure processing environments, and interoperable IT solutions for the EHDS. Existing health data platforms and research infrastructures are to be closely integrated and further developed.

Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include universities, non-university research institutions, companies, non-profit organizations, and public corporations, which collaborate in a joint project. A prerequisite is that the participating partners already have relevant infrastructures for the secondary use of health data and are nationally networked.

The funding is provided in a two-stage process. Project outlines must be submitted via the easy-Online funding portal by September 14, 2026 (23:59). Selected consortia will then be invited to submit a formal funding application. The project duration can be up to 36 months .

Key information at a glance

• Funding program: Establishment of a national network for the development of a federated health data infrastructure in the European Health Data Space (EHDS)

• Funder: Federal Ministry of Health (BMG)

• Funding volume: up to 14 million euros

• Target group: Collaborations of universities, research institutions, companies, non-profit organizations, and public bodies

• AI relevance: Building interoperable health data infrastructures as a basis for AI-supported research, innovation, and personalized medicine

• Submission deadline for project outlines: September 14, 2026

• Project duration: up to 36 months