Healthcare Institutions Can Apply to Join the EUnetCCC Network

The EUnetCCC Network, the European Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centres, has opened a Call for Interest — a collection of expressions of interest from healthcare institutions considering joining the network.

This involves entering a complex system of European coordination built on clear rules, multi-level procedures, and long-term commitments. The process is designed for institutions with a sufficient level of managerial, organizational, and strategic maturity.

Who This Is For

Joining the EUnetCCC Network is a path for healthcare institutions that:

• are ready for long-term European integration, not one-off participation;
• have a stable system of governance and international cooperation;
• are capable of working with grant agreements, amendments, and complex coordination;
• understand that this is a resource-intensive process requiring time, attention, and institutional discipline.

The Role of National Coordination

A central role in the procedure in each country is played by the national competent authority — the official point of contact between the European Joint Action, the EUnetCCC Network Secretariat, and healthcare institutions at the national level.

In Ukraine, this authority is the National Cancer Institute, which:

• compiles a consolidated national list of centers planning to apply;
• coordinates information between various work packages and secretariats;
• ensures the consistency of applications and prevents procedural errors.

Two Parallel Procedures

Experience from the network's first application rounds has revealed the most critical problem: many centers do not realize they must go through two separate procedures.

If an institution is not yet a Joint Action partner, it must:

1. Initiate the procedure for inclusion in the Joint Action. This is done through a Grant Agreement amendment — a separate legal and administrative process.
2. Submit a separate application for membership in the EUnetCCC Network. This step is not triggered automatically after submitting a request for inclusion in the Joint Action.

These processes do not replace one another, may follow different timelines, and require synchronization and ongoing communication.

The current Grant Agreement amendment is in its final stage, so new partners cannot be included immediately. The next amendment will be launched later — it is within that amendment that the formal inclusion of new centers will become possible.

What to Pay Attention to When Applying

• use only the institution's official name, identical to the one recorded in the Description of the Action (DoA);
• avoid abbreviations, alternative names, or translated versions;
• ensure full consistency across all submitted materials.

Even minor discrepancies can lead to review delays, documents being returned for revision, or accession being postponed to the next stage.

Deadline and Contacts