Politics

Commission proposes new rules to ensure stable supply of critical medicines

Published

2 months ago

March 12, 2025

commission-proposes-new-rules-to-ensure-stable-supply-of-critical-medicines

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Patients in the EU should have access to the medicines they need, when they need them. Unfortunately, in recent years EU countries have been confronted with severe medicine shortages, made worse by global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Critical Medicines Act, proposed by the Commission today, aims to support manufacturing and improve the availability of critical medicines in the EU.

Medicine shortages are mostly caused by manufacturing problems, supply chain risks and global competition for resources. The new Act aims to overcome these challenges. Key elements include

improving EU manufacturing capacity for critical medicines through strategic projects
use of public procurement to encourage reliable supply chains of critical medicines or improve access to other medicines
supporting collaborative procurement among EU countries to ensure fair access to important medicines across the EU
exploring international partnerships to reduce dependence on a single or limited number of suppliers

Tackling shortages and ensuring access to medicines has been a priority for the EU for many years. The new Critical Medicines Act complements legislative proposals already put forward to address this, notably through the reform of the EU’s pharmaceutical strategy. The European Medicines Agency, together with national authorities, plays a key role in monitoring and responding to these critical medicine shortages.

For more information

Press release: Commission proposes Critical Medicines Act to bolster the supply of critical medicines in the EU

Questions and answers on the Critical Medicines Act

Factsheet on Critical Medicines Act

Modernising the EU pharmaceutical legislation

European Medicines Agency

European Critical Medicines Alliance

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A Journey of Innovation: From EIT Digital Alumni to Generative AI Startup Founders

Published

14 hours ago

May 11, 2025

Jackie Manno

LEVELS: Pioneering business transformation through Generative AI

In May 2024, a groundbreaking startup emerged when four former Data Science students from the EIT Digital Master School — Emanuele Baldelli, Filippo Caliò, Dario Del Gaizo, and Tommaso Lucarelli — founded LEVELS.

Based in Italy but with global ambitions, this innovative venture specializes in harnessing the revolutionary power of Generative AI to transform business operations across industries, with a growing focus on the construction sector.

What sets LEVELS apart is its singular focus on Generative AI systems that function as digital collaborators rather than mere tools.

Our expertise lies in crafting tailored Generative AI systems that improve core business processes and address critical operational challenges. These solutions go beyond automation, acting as digital co-workers that assist and enhance employees’ efficiency, driving innovation and scalability

Emanuele Baldelli, Co-founder of LEVELS

The company is currently developing a specialized SaaS platform for the construction industry, designed to streamline the complex bureaucratic processes associated with safety compliance — a significant pain point in the sector.

From corporate success to entrepreneurial adventure

Before founding LEVELS, Baldelli had secured a coveted position at Amazon’s European headquarters. Despite the prestige and exceptional work environment, he found himself yearning for something more challenging and dynamic.

While the work and the people at Amazon were amazing, I felt like something was missing — the excitement, the adventure. I was a bit scared of living a plain life and wanted a new, big challenge rather than working at a corporation indefinitely.

Emanuele Baldelli, Co-founder of LEVELS

Drawing inspiration from Steve Jobs’ philosophy that “everything around you that you call life was made up by people who were no smarter than you,” Baldelli embraced the belief that he could create something meaningful that would impact others’ lives.

The founding team credits the EIT Digital Master School as a pivotal influence in their entrepreneurial journey.

EIT Digital MS provided us not just with balanced theoretical and practical knowledge, but also with an incredible environment to grow together. The greatest influence came from sharing this experience with like-minded individuals who share a unique mindset—one that connects them deeply with each other while setting them apart.

Emanuele Baldelli, Co-founder of LEVELS

These connections, formed during their studies and strengthened during their final year at their exit university, proved instrumental in creating the foundation for LEVELS.

Embracing the entrepreneurial challenge

According to Baldelli, the most rewarding aspect of entrepreneurship lies in the constant evolution and problem-solving required. “I see it through the lens of experience—the adventure, the ups and downs, and the challenges I face. The problems we encounter every day are always new, complex, and unexplored. This is what makes it truly unique and fulfilling.”

These challenges span every facet of business development: identifying market needs, articulating value propositions, finding customers, determining pricing strategies, managing talent, and striving to create a meaningful impact—all while navigating the cutting-edge field of Generative AI.

When asked for advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, Baldelli offers a candid perspective on the entrepreneurial journey: “There’s no advice that can truly prepare anyone to start. This is such a life-changing choice that no tips, no motivational talk, can push you to do it unless you are fully determined to try it with everything you have.”

He emphasizes that entrepreneurship demands sacrifices in pursuit of a vision—”the belief that you can create something lasting, something meaningful, that will make a difference for people.”

As LEVELS continues to evolve, the company remains committed to scaling its Generative AI offerings, expanding its SaaS platform capabilities, and fostering continuous innovation. By combining groundbreaking technology with top talent in the field, LEVELS aims to spearhead a future where Generative AI fundamentally transforms how businesses operate and grow across global industries and markets.

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Jackie Manno

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Politics

RAW MATERIALS SUMMIT | EIT

Published

14 hours ago

May 11, 2025

Lucinda Dommelen

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Join the “Race to 2030” at the 7th EIT RawMaterials Summit

Global shifts, from geopolitical tensions to climate challenges, redefine Europe’s economic landscape. Critical raw materials (CRMs) are no longer just an industry concern–they are essential to Europe’s competitiveness, strategic autonomy, and green transition.

With 80–100% import dependency on many CRMs, the European Competitiveness Compass highlights the urgent need to secure supply chains, diversify partnerships, and accelerate a circular economy. Action is needed now to drive industrial innovation and resilience.

Join over 1,000 participants, including industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers in Brussels, 13–15 May 2025, to connect, collaborate, and address the most pressing topics for our sector, including:

Funding innovation to drive breakthrough research and industrial adoption
Unlocking circular economies and Europe’s resource potential
Training the workforce needed for a net-zero industrial future
Building partnerships that drive meaningful progress and shared benefits

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EIT Food and SkyHive launch the G4F Skills Platform

Published

14 hours ago

May 11, 2025

Juan Sanchez Gil

EIT Food, in partnership with SkyHive by Cornerstone and a consortium of leading partners from the EU-funded GEEK4Food project, has launched the G4F Skills Platform.

The platform aims to connect learners, workers, employers, educators, and soon policymakers, offering tools and resources to help drive sustainability and innovation within the food industry.

AI-Powered Learning for Career Development

Leveraging technology from SkyHive by Cornerstone, the G4F Skills Platform empowers individuals and organizations to stay ahead of industry trends and enhance their skills. By focusing on continuous learning, the platform supports the development of a more skilled workforce that can meet the evolving demands of the agri-food sector.

Powered by SkyHive by Cornerstone, the platform offers a dynamic, AI-driven experience that helps individuals at all stages of their careers whether upskilling, reskilling, or transitioning to track and develop their skills and discover new career and learning opportunities. Users can access tailored learning paths, identify skill gaps, and receive personalized insights to future-proof their career paths in the evolving agri-food sector.

The agri-food sector requires a specific set of skills and knowledge that are vital to retain, retrain and continually upskill not only for the industry, but the greater population who benefit from their work. Leveraging SkyHive by Cornerstone’s technology will allow individuals, employers, educators and policymakers the benefit of identifying gaps, closing these gaps with the necessary training and making critical talent projection decisions to meet the needs of the sector

Mohan Reddy, VP of Engineering, SkyHive by Cornerstone

The platform equally benefits employers, educators, and policymakers as the agri-food sector shifts from a role-based to a skills-based labor market. Automation, AI, and data-driven agriculture are transforming food production, and the rising demand for sustainability calls for expertise in areas like environmental management and sustainable farming. Meanwhile, younger workers increasingly expect more flexible, dynamic roles across various areas of expertise.

For employers, this shift means the need to identify the precise skills required for emerging roles in food systems, enabling them to match talent with the right opportunities. For education providers, it requires a rethinking of curricula and training programs to ensure that they are equipping learners with the skills the industry urgently needs.

Policymakers will soon be able to access real-time data on agri-food skills and labor market trends in Europe, empowering them to shape evidence-based policies that address the sector’s evolving workforce needs and drive long-term sustainability.

The G4F Skills Platform facilitates this transition by offering tools that help learners, workers, employers, educators, and policymakers understand the skills landscape, allowing them to align talent development, educational offerings, and policies with the evolving needs of the sector.

The platform is now live and available to users across Europe, offering a set of real-time tools for upskilling, reskilling, and career development, with continuous adaptability powered by AI technology.

The agri-food system stands at a critical crossroads, where urgent change is imperative. Climate change, a growing population, and the strain on planetary boundaries have intensified environmental, social, and economic pressures, demanding action from both the public and private sectors. Addressing the skills gap and reskilling the workforce is paramount. We must leverage technological innovations to equip learners with the skills needed for real transformation towards more sustainable models. The Geek4Food project introduces the G4F Skills Platform, offering flexibility and a wealth of training opportunities to support the educational progression of professionals, students, and educators, while enhancing the value of each individual’s skills portfolio

Maarten van der Kamp, Director of Education, EIT Food

About GEEK4Food

The GEEK4Food project, co-funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme, is designed to address critical challenges in the agri-food sector, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and skills development through higher education. The project brings together a diverse consortium of universities, consultancy agencies – including those specialising in futures literacy – technology providers focused on AI-driven workforce development, and innovation-focused organisations dedicated to transforming the food sector. All partners share the belief that specialised, skills-oriented education is crucial for driving improvements and creating a more sustainable, innovative agri-food system. The G4F Skills Platform is one of the key tools in this effort, offering an AI-powered solution for upskilling and reskilling across the sector.