On January 30 2025 IncreaseNET 2025 Assessors Forum: Enhancing NCAs Expertise gathered 180 participants, both in-person and online, from 25 EU/EEA countries, Ukraine, as well as representatives from the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the European Commission’s DG Sante. This event showcased the transformative power of collaboration within the European Medicines Regulatory Network (EMRN) which approved record high 114 medicines via centralised procedures in 2024.

The forum opened with a welcome address from Siniša Tomić, Executive Director of HALMED, which hosted the event, and Momir Radulović, Executive Director of JAZMP, which coordinates IncreaseNET. They highlighted not only the forum’s significance as a unique platform for targeted networking and collaboration within the EMRN but also the vital role of the IncreaseNET project itself in enhancing regulatory expertise across national competent authorities. Both speakers underscored the importance of hands-on learning experiences in strengthening skills and knowledge within the network, in particular in the areas of advanced therapy medicinal products, biologicals, methodology and biostatistics.

Luka Kosec, IncreaseNET’s Coordinator (JAZMP), provided an overview of the IncreaseNET, outlining key objectives and achievements to date. He also emphasized the crucial role of active engagement from all consortium partners in ensuring the project’s success and maximizing its benefits for everyone involved.

Key Sessions: 

• The Journey of EU NTC: Origins, Achievements, and the Road Ahead with IncreaseNET: Marianne Van Heers (EMA)
• Collaborating for Sustainability: Steffen Bager and Niels Henrik Meedom (DKMA)
• National Competent Authorities (NCAs) Capacity Survey Results: Marko Kallio (FIMEA)
• Training Redefined: Building the Path to Effective Learning: Naomi Beard (HPRA)
• One year in action: Progress, practice and potential of the IncreaseNET’s on-the-job training & coaching program: Anna Nickel (BfArM), Yasmine Labrak’s (FAMHP)
• AI for medicines regulation: Gabriel Westman (Swedish MPA)

The forum wasn’t just about sharing IncreaseNET’s updates; it exemplified how cooperation accelerates progress. The diverse mix of participants, ranging from clinical, non-clinical and quality assessors to scientific experts, fostered dynamic discussions and led to actionable insights.

As IncreaseNET continues its journey, the message from Zagreb is clear: collaboration isn’t just beneficial, it’s essential.

Together, national competent authorities can build a resilient, forward-thinking regulatory landscape that ensures safe, effective and high-quality medicines for all.

For more information on IncreaseNET, visit the IncreaseNET Project Page.