Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan is strengthening the use of data and digital technologies to improve cancer prevention, care and policymaking across the EU. At its core is the European Cancer Information System (ECIS), which relies on data from population-based cancer registries to monitor cancer trends and support initiatives such as the European Cancer Inequalities Registry.

Supported by €13 million from the EU4Health programme, the Joint Action CancerWatch is helping registries improve the quality, timeliness and comparability of cancer data. In its first year, the project successfully completed a Europe-wide ECIS data collection, conducted the largest survey of European cancer registries to date, advanced harmonised cancer indicators, and developed new software and digital infrastructure to standardise data reporting. It is also aligning with the European Health Data Space and collaborating with other EU projects to improve data interoperability and reuse.

Running until August 2028, CancerWatch aims to strengthen the evidence base for cancer control, supporting more effective, data-driven policies under Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan.