EMA works across a wide number of topics and with a broad range of stakeholders, from research institutes, universities and public-private initiatives to the European Commission and EU Member States. Activities range from acting as the secretariat for multi-partner networks to membership of pan-European and international research projects.
All of the EMA's work aims to improve the science and process of medicines regulation. This will foster the development of medicines for unmet medical needs, and to optimise the surveillance and management of medicines on the EU market.
It is part of our mission to support scientific excellence in the evaluation and supervision of medicines, for the benefit of public and animal health.
For more information on EMA's mission, see:
EMA has targeted engagement with academia, learned societies and research groups in a range of areas. These areas include:
For more information, see:
This platform aims to foster collaboration among academic regulatory science researchers and regulators in Europe and beyond.
Its main objectives are to:
EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agency launched the European Platform for Regulatory Science Research in March 2025.
For more information, see:
EMA may be able to take part in certain research projects in collaboration with external parties, if the projects support our health mission.
We can take part on a number of levels:
EMA bases its decisions on which projects it can take part in on these criteria:
EMA encourages researchers to share results and data with potential public-health impact even before these have been published in a peer-reviewed journal.
A document is available summarising the types of activities that EMA is involved in, the degree of involvement, funding arrangements and the process for enquiring about embarking upon a research project with EMA: