European Commission Opens 2026 Joint Scientific Consultation Submission Window
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The European Commission has announced the opening of the third 2026 submission window for Joint Scientific Consultations (JSCs), a critical step for health technology developers under the new EU HTA Regulation. This provides an opportunity for early alignment with EU HTA bodies.
The European Commission Joint Scientific Consultation 2026 calendar gives health technology developers four request windows to seek EU HTA advice before Joint Clinical Assessment. Submissions run on the HTA IT Platform, with no fee, under the EU HTA Regulation that applied from 12 January 2025.
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Key Takeaways
- Four 2026 JSC request periods: 7 Jan–4 Feb, 1–29 Apr, 3 Jun–1 Jul, and 23 Sep–21 Oct (European Commission JSC page).
- HTACG 2026 work programme plans about 8–12 medicine JSCs and 2–5 device JSCs, still without fees.
- Requests use dedicated JSC templates on the secure HTA IT Platform after secretariat access approval.
- EMA scientific advice remains parallel-capable for teams that want regulatory and HTA timing aligned.
What is a Joint Scientific Consultation under EU HTA?
A JSC lets developers ask EU HTA bodies how to design clinical studies so evidence fits a later Joint Clinical Assessment. It is advice on evidence needs—not a marketing authorization and not a reimbursement decision.
The legal frame is the EU HTA Regulation. HaDEA notes the regulation entered into application on 12 January 2025, after which JSC request periods became the practical on-ramp for pipeline planning.
When are the 2026 JSC submission windows?
The Commission’s Joint Scientific Consultations page publishes the 2026 request periods and linked briefing/discussion timelines.
- 7 January to 4 February 2026
- 1 to 29 April 2026
- 3 June to 1 July 2026
- 23 September to 21 October 2026
HaDEA’s 3 June 2026 notice confirms the third window opened that day and closes 1 July 2026, with briefing-document and discussion-meeting slots into 2027.
How many consultations will HTACG run in 2026?
The HTACG Annual Work Programme 2026 says the Coordination Group plans to initiate 8 to 12 joint scientific consultations on medicinal products and 2 to 5 on medical devices, and to raise those numbers over time.
The same programme states JSCs for medicines and devices continue without fees. Finite slots mean early platform registration is operationally critical.
How do you submit a JSC request?
Developers first email [email protected] to request HTA IT Platform access, naming an EU Login contact. After the secretariat issues access, the request and templates are uploaded on the platform only.
The Commission warns that commercially sensitive information must not be emailed. Access approval can take several days, so waiting until the last day of a window is a common failure mode.
Should teams also seek EMA scientific advice?
EMA scientific advice and protocol assistance remains the regulatory counterpart. Parallel timing helps keep pivotal endpoints coherent for both CHMP and multi-country HTA reviewers.
JSC answers HTA evidence questions; EMA advice answers quality, nonclinical, and clinical development questions for authorization. Using only one channel leaves the other side’s expectations untested.
For oncology and ATMPs entering Joint Clinical Assessment earlier in the HTA timeline, the cost of a mismatched primary endpoint is high: a trial that satisfies regulators may still fail EU relative-effectiveness questions if comparator choice, subgroup plans, or health-related quality-of-life measures were never stress-tested in a JSC.
Practical sequencing for many assets is (1) secure HTA IT Platform access before the target window, (2) draft the JSC briefing book against published templates, and (3) book EMA advice so protocol lock does not outrun either process. The June–July 2026 window is especially useful for assets that missed the January and April periods.
What remains uncertain for sponsors?
Getting a JSC slot does not guarantee a favorable Joint Clinical Assessment. Advice is non-binding, and Member State pricing still follows national processes after EU joint work.
Device and IVD eligibility (for example class IIb/III devices and class D IVDs in HaDEA notices) must be checked against current selection guidance before spending briefing-book effort.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the 2026 Joint Scientific Consultation request periods?
The European Commission lists four 2026 JSC request periods: 7 January–4 February, 1–29 April, 3 June–1 July, and 23 September–21 October 2026. Requests go through the HTA IT Platform.
Is there a fee for a Joint Scientific Consultation?
The HTACG 2026 Annual Work Programme states that joint scientific consultations for medicines and medical devices continue to be offered without fees.
How do developers get access to the HTA IT Platform for JSC?
Developers email the HTA secretariat ([email protected]) to request platform access with an EU Login contact. Commercially sensitive files must be uploaded only on the HTA IT Platform, not by email.
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