In an increasingly complex world, maintaining brain health is essential for societal resilience, quality of life, and overall well-being. The Brainstorming the Future of Brain Health event served as a platform to address pressing research and innovation challenges in this field, to evaluate collaborative research efforts, and to lay the foundation for future progress that ensured brain health was both accessible and impactful for everyone.

This event, organized by Helmholtz-Gemeinschaft, the Polish Science Contact Agency "PolSCA" of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Brussels and SwissCore represented a strategic initiative to deepen the understanding of brain health, encompassing both neurological and mental well-being. The focus was on transforming scientific insights into practical solutions that benefited individuals, healthcare systems, and society at large.

As M. Adam Jarubas, chair of European Parliament subcommittee on public health highlighted quoting  Prof. Claudio Lino Bassetti, chair of SFCNS Swiss Brain Health Plan: "Neurological and mental disorders are two sides of the same coin—the brain". Therefore, addressing brain health comprehensively is key to tackling these interconnected challenges and driving societal well-being and innovation.

As Europe reflects on its future competitiveness, Prof. Ingrit Bègue, SBHP Board Member, argued in her intervention that Switzerland has a unique role to play in closing the innovation gap.

"In fact, Switzerland is a world champion of innovation: According to the 2024 Global Innovation Index (GII) by the World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO Switzerland ranks 1st globally for the 14th consecutive year, excelling in both Knowledge & Technology Outputs and Creative Outputs! However, emerging 2024 global trailblazers are Singapore, the United States, and China reminding us that EU - Switzerland collaboration is key.  By leveraging Swiss excellence in innovation, cutting-edge research infrastructure, and commitment to national initiatives like the SFCNS Swiss Brain Health Plan, Europe can join forces with Switzerland to address shared societal challenges while ensuring global leadership in critical sectors. Investing in brain health is more than a medical imperative; a brain-healthy society is secure, resilient, and poised for sustainable progress!" (Prof. Indrit Bègue, Psychiatrist FMH & Neuroscientist (PhD) | Professor of psychiatry, University of Geneva | Swiss Brain Health Plan Board | SFCNS-YouCliN)