ENGAGE, SHARE, CONNECT!
On the 2nd European Cancer Mission Fair in Nicosia, Cyprus!
- The second European Cancer Mission Fair, an event organised by the EU-funded ECHoS project, in collaboration with the European Commission, will take place in Nicosia, Cyprus, on April 28th, 2026
- This event is organised under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union
- The Fair will showcase cross‑sector collaboration, youth‑driven innovation, and citizen‑science participation in cancer research.
- It will bring together EU experts and leading organisations, along with national stakeholders,putting citizens and patients at the centre of cancer research and care.
Lisbon and Brussels, March 15th, 2026
Following last year’s success, the Cancer Mission Fair is back for the second edition on 28th April 2026, this time in Nicosia, Cyprus. This groundbreaking event, themed “ENGAGE, SHARE, CONNECT!”, will focus once again on amplifying real-life impact on cancer care and research through collaboration and citizen-centred solutions. The inaugural Fair was a landmark event that united voices in the European fight against cancer and saw the launch of the first National Cancer Mission Hub, in Poland, marking an important milestone for the implementation of the EU Cancer Mission.
Organised as part of the Establishing Cancer Mission Hubs: Networks and Synergies (ECHoS) project, in collaboration with the European Commission’s EU Cancer Mission, and under the patronage of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026, the fair aims to offer a unique opportunity to learn from best practices and foster collaboration across sectors.
Opening the Fair, Christian Bason, co-founder of Transition Collective, will tackle Mission-led scaling of health innovations and how these strategies can be effectively implemented to involve citizens and patients in cancer research and care.
Innovative youth‑driven initiatives across Europe, such as Youth Cancer Europe, YARN-the European Youth Cancer Network and MELODIC- Mental Health Support for Young Adults with Cancer will be in the spotlight, along with a practical example on how Vall d’Hebron University Hospital co-created an AYA ward with young adults. These initiatives will discuss how to reshape cancer care by echoing the voices and lived experiences of adolescents and young adults. Citizen science in health and oncology will be explored through a lecture by Ria Wolkorte of the European Citizen Science Association. Pitches from OriON, ONCODIR, OnkoFest, and TRACE, among others, will also be explored, as this is not just a method; it is a cultural shift. Through real-world experimentation, creative communication, and shared decision-making, people help shape policies, improve health literacy, and drive more equitable, impactful, human-centred solutions. Also, the Fair offers a unique opportunity to experience interactive exhibitions, an art gallery and participate in dynamic workshops:
- POLICY DIALOGUES AS TOOL TO INFORM DECISION-MAKING IN CANCER – Florian Tille, The European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies
- ENGAGING CITIZENS IN MISSION-ORIENTED INNOVATION – Christian Bason, Co-founder of Transition Collective, Adjunct Professor, University of Technology Sydney
- MAPPING CANCER RISK: NETWORK ANALYSIS AND ART-BASED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN RURAL LIVING LABS – Marian-Gabriel Hâncean, Professor of Quantitative Sociology, Research director at the Center for Innovation in Medicine (INOMED)
- BEYOND PILOTS: SYNERGISING EU CANCER PROJECTS FOR ETHICAL, INCLUSIVE REAL-WORLD IMPLEMENTATION – Carina Dantas, CEO SHINE 2 Europe
Finally, to address the entire cancer care pathway and create a dynamic and patient-centric ecosystem, all sectors must come together. The “Co-designing with patients: mission-oriented leadership and Penta helix collaboration for health system readiness” lecture and panel discussion will bring together national and international representatives from the Health & Care, Public Administration, Citizens & Civil Society, Business, Knowledge and Academia sectors.
By uniting diverse perspectives across sectors — from citizens, survivors, specialists in different fields — the EU Cancer Mission Fair is catalysing a redefinition of how the cancer community listens, learns, and builds solutions, ensuring future care and research are more inclusive, responsive, and empowering for the next generation.
Other Events:
The Second EU Cancer Mission Fair (28th April) will take place back to back with other events you may also be interested in:
• Understanding Cancer in the Digital Age: Data, Innovation and Equity conference (27th April). Join policymakers, researchers, clinicians, innovators and patient advocates to discuss latest improvements in quality and usability of cancer data, innovative solutions and equity to advance cancer research and care.
• Securing a Lasting Impact: From the EU Cancer Plan and EU Cancer Mission, hosted by the Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) and the European Cancer Organisation (ECO) under the auspices of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union (29th April). Join leading minds of the cancer community to define expectations and commitments for the next phase of the EU’s action against cancer.
About ECHoS – Establishing of Cancer Mission Hubs: Networks and Synergies
ECHoS, a project launched under the EU Cancer Mission, aims at creating NCMHs in each MS and AC, operating at national, regional, and local levels. These NCMHs will have a key role in involving all relevant national, regional, and local stakeholders, including citizens, in cancer-related policy dialogues. To achieve this ambition ECHoS set 4 main objectives:
- Creation of National Cancer Mission Hubs in every MS and AC,
- Establishment of a network of support to advance Cancer Mission across Europe,
- Promote synergies with other European initiatives and programmes to maximise available funds, increase impact and fasten the implementation of the Cancer Mission priority areas,
- Create the foundations for a European network of NCMHs by developing a business continuity and operations model framework.
The ECHoS consortium consists of 61 organisations and 30 countries. For more information visit https://cancermissionhubs.eu/.
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