Maturity levels on innovation support

IncreaseNET maturity assessment

Within the framework of the Joint Action IncreaseNET, a consortium of 29 National Competent Authorities (NCAs) belonging to the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) collaborated to strengthen capacity and competence building across the European Medicines Regulatory Network (EMRN).

As part of Work Package 8 – Task 8.5, an online survey was conducted between July and September 2024 to identify practices implemented within NCAs to support innovation. A total of 23 NCAs responded, of which 21 questionnaires were considered fully usable, providing a representative overview of current practices across the network. The survey findings were consolidated into a dedicated report, which served as the basis for developing this maturity assessment tool. Please refer to the contact details provided below for further information or access to the report.

Based on these findings, the identified practices were organised into five progressive maturity levels of innovation support, reflecting increasing levels of organisational capability and performance. This led to the development of this interactive self-assessment tool, enabling NCAs to assess their current maturity, identify strengths and gaps, and support continuous improvement.

This assessment specifically focuses on innovation support activities. While some practices may already exist within an NCA, they may not be formally organised or dedicated to innovation support. The objective is therefore to assess the maturity of innovation support practices within an NCA and identify opportunities for further development.

This self-assessment tool is intended to support reflection and continuous improvement. It is not designed to compare or rank NCAs, but rather to help each organisation identify its current level of maturity and prioritise future development.

How maturity levels are calculated

The assessment combines criterion weighting with a section-based maturity approach.

For each section, a weighted score is calculated from the selected criteria and converted into a preliminary maturity level. The final maturity level corresponds to the higher of:

• the maturity level derived from the weighted score; and
• the highest maturity level represented by a selected criterion.

The overall maturity level is then determined from the final maturity levels achieved across all 12 assessment sections. Each section contributes equally to the overall result, while sections with no selected criterion are considered as Level 1.

In parallel, the tool calculates an implementation coverage indicator based on the weighted proportion of selected criteria selected across the assessment. This complementary indicator reflects the extent to which innovation support practices have been implemented but does not influence the overall maturity level.

How to use this tool

1. Complete each assessment section by selecting the practices currently implemented within your organisation.
2. The results are updated automatically as you complete the assessment.
3. Once completed, consult the Global Maturity Level and Maturity Level by Sections summaries displayed at the bottom of the page.

Further information

For any questions regarding this self-assessment tool, Task 8.5 of the Joint Action IncreaseNET, or to access the related reports and supporting documents, please contact:

• French Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (ANSM, France)
Lead of Work Package 8 on Innovation Support

• Slovenian Agency for Medicinal Products and Medical Devices (JAZMP, Slovenia)
Coordinator of the Joint Action IncreaseNET