EHDS and Pharma: Impact on R&D and Unresolved Challenges

1 view Mar 19, 2026 In-person video interviewsThe European Health Data Space (EHDS) isn't just a new regulation—it’s a "Magna Carta" for healthcare innovation. In this interview from the Smart Bridges Event, we sit down with industry expert Dennis Geisthardt, Head of digital.lab, to break down the implementation timeline (2025–2031) and what it means for the pharmaceutical industry, medtech, and patients across Europe.

We dive into the "Countdown to 2027," the challenges of intellectual property vs. data sharing, and how opening up access to clinical data could finally unlock breakthroughs for rare diseases and personalized medicine.

In this video, you’ll learn:

The 3 major milestones of EHDS implementation (2027, 2029, 2031).

Why "Primary Use" vs. "Secondary Use" of data matters for your healthcare.

The risks and rewards for the private sector and Big Pharma.

How EHDS could revolutionize market access (AMNOG) and AI-driven drug discovery.

00:30 – Introduction: The Smart Bridges Event 03:45 – Why EHDS is a 100-year milestone for healthcare 04:30 – The role of the private sector in co-creating the framework 04:10 – What is EHDS? Primary vs. Secondary data use explained 05:00 – The Timeline: The "Countdown" to 2027, 2029, and 2031 06:30 – Who is a "Data Holder"? (Hospitals, Pharma, & MedTech) 07:45 – Industry Challenges: IP Rights, Trade Secrets, and Competition 08:50 – Revolutionizing Market Access (AMNOG) through data 09:40 – A "Magna Carta" for Rare Diseases and AI Research 10:30 – Identifying why therapies work (or fail) using broader datasets 11:20 – Closing: Why EHDS requires a "European Village" to succeed