ECO President at World Economic Forum 2025

 

‘Financing Cancer Plans, Now and in the Future’

 

From 20 to 24 January, global leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland for the annual World Economic Forum (WEF). Under the theme ‘Collaboration for the Intelligent Age’, the Forum addressed key global and regional challenges, including the urgent need to strengthen cancer care systems worldwide.

With global cancer rates projected to rise by nearly seven million cases over the next decade – and the economic toll of cancer expected to reach $25.2 trillion over the next 30 years – tackling this public health crisis has become a global priority. Discussions during WEF 2025 focused on innovative strategies for early detection, value-based financing, advancements in science, and the future of cancer care.

Prof. Csaba Dégi, president of the European Cancer Organisation (ECO), was among the featured participants in several high profile sessions. His contributions highlighted ECO’s extensive efforts to foster collaboration among stakeholders to improve cancer prevention, detection, and treatment.

Key points raised by Prof. Dégi during his presentations included:

• The positive and stimulating impact that Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan has had in encouraging countries in the EU and beyond to go further and faster in joint responses to the challenges posed by rising cancer incidence.
• The need to sustain the new frameworks of cooperation created by that Plan beyond the current EU funding cycle, which ends in 2027, while also harnessing exciting new advances in precision oncology and artificial intelligence.
• The value in replicating Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan approach of cross border cooperation through other international efforts, including the potential establishment of a UN taskforce on cancer.

Following his participation at the Forum, the ECO president said:

‘It’s very encouraging to see the growing focus on cancer at the various associated events of the World Economic Forum this year. The appetite for more efficient, effective global cooperation in the fight against cancer was palpable. ECO’s own efforts this year will be influenced by the discussions and ideas shared this week. I strongly believe that what Europe is currently achieving currently through Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Research Mission on Cancer provides a valuable template for a future of heightened international cooperation on cancer.’

For more details on the World Economic Forum 2025, please click here. To learn about ECO’s policy priorities and ongoing initiatives, please visit our website.