Unveiling European cancer funding: insights from the European Commission’s cancer projects tool

This publication presents a comprehensive analysis of the current landscape of European Union (EU) funding in the field of cancer, detailing financial contributions and identifying key beneficiaries. Quantitative and qualitative methods were employed in this study to describe funding characteristics and identify patterns. Large language models methodology was applied to assign standardized keywords to projects, facilitating the identification of synergies and thematic interconnections among cancer-related initiatives. The analysis covers 102 projects funded under Horizon Europe, European Union for Health (EU4Health), and the Digital Europe Programme, representing a combined investment of over €840 million. Most projects focussed on diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Colorectal and breast cancers were the most common areas of focus. A set of 56 standardized keywords was developed to cluster the projects, with the most frequent terms relating to healthcare, policy and guidance and digital aspects. Institutions from larger western and southern European countries were the most active participants and distinct collaboration networks between specific institutions were identified. Countries with larger populations, but not those with a higher gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, were involved in a greater number of projects. This work lays the foundation for more strategic planning of EU cancer funding and aims to foster stronger collaboration across Europe.