ECHoS

Cancer remains one of Europe’s most urgent health challenges, with cases projected to exceed 3.24 million by 2040. Confronting this reality requires coordinated action that bridges research, policy, healthcare, and society. Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan (2020) and the EU Mission on Cancer (2021) placed cancer at the core of the EC political agenda, creating a mission-oriented framework that promotes collaboration across sectors and governance levels. Within this landscape, National Cancer Mission Hubs (NCMHs) have emerged as key conveners of diverse stakeholders, bridging siloed sectors and translating strategic objectives into practical solutions. ECHoS (Establishing Cancer Mission Hubs: beyond Networks and Synergies) moves from the foundations laid by ECHoS (2023–2026) by focusing on consolidation, capacity-building, and long-term sustainability. Its ambition is to strengthen NCMHs as collaborative ecosystems that engage policymakers, healthcare professionals, researchers, patients, citizens and the business sector, embedding Mission principles into national, regional, and local contexts. Going from pilots to systemic actions, this project will support NCMHs to evolve along a maturity pathway, benefit from structured training and peer learning, and operate within a formalised European network. Demonstrator projects will showcase the potential of multi-stakeholder collaboration, while new partnerships will expand the reach of Mission principles from European to national and international levels. Through these advances, ECHoS will facilitate a lasting and impactful network of NCMHs, support the translation of the EU Mission on Cancer into measurable benefits for citizens, contributing to reducing inequalities in cancer outcomes across borders, and secure Europe’s global leadership in Mission-driven health innovation.