Biography
EIC Programme Manager for MedTech and AI in healthcare
With over 23 years of experience in the field, Federica Zanca stands as a distinguished senior clinical medical physicist and scientist dedicated to advancing medical imaging and MedTech. In her academic role at KU Leuven, Federica served as a professor, engaging in research across diverse areas, including mammography, computed tomography, interventional and general radiology, medical imaging perception, and artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare.
In 2018, Federica founded Palindromo Consulting and led this company which provided consulting services to both industry and hospitals in healthcare. Pioneering the integration of AI in healthcare, she assumed a groundbreaking role in advancing the field of medical physics.
She served as Chief Scientist and director at GE Healthcare. Additionally, Federica was Head of R&D at a Swiss private network of diagnostic centers and Chair of the Working Group on AI in healthcare for the European Federation of Medical Physics.
Federica is also the author of several high-impact papers in medical imaging, including regulatory aspects of AI in healthcare.
Her strategic vision and ability to navigate the dynamic landscape of healthcare underscore her commitment to pushing the boundaries of innovation for the improvement of patient care and the advancement of the European innovation ecosystem.
Advanced Innovation Challenge
New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)
Outreach activities
- 8-10 December 2025HealthTech Investor Summit 2025, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Representing the EIC and networking activities at the HealthTech Investor Summit
- 5 December 2025Workshop: “AI, Data and Computational methods for cardiovascular diseases”, Barcelona, Spain
- Keynote “The role of SMEs in driving innovation in AI for CVD.”
- 18-19 November 2025POLITICO Health Care Summit, Brussels, Belgium
- Speaker at the fireside chat: "Tomorrow’s cures: Research, develop, innovate"
- 4-5 November 2025IHI Brokerage Event 2025, Brussels, Belgium
- Representing the EIC and networking activities at Brokerage Event
- 15-16 October 2025NoBoCap Summit 2025 - Qualify to Certify: Bringing Together Europe to Unlock Medical Device Regulation & The AI Act for Innovators and SMEs in Europe, Brussels, Belgium
- Panelist on the topic “From policy to practice (1): Breakthrough MD innovation pathways”
- 15 October 2025Approaches to early cancer diagnosis and the impact of artificial intelligence in oncology, Online
- 1 October 2025xTEF: TEFs full scale operation accelerates the AI and robotics uptake in Europe, Online
- Speaker at the session “TEF-Multiplicators” on stage - Part II: Session on public domain’s interest for TEFs, introducing the perspective from co-funding agencies from EU Member States, the rationale for supporting testing and validation of AI and Robotics solutions in agrifood, health, manufacturing and smart cities
- 29 September 2025La Rivoluzione Dell'Intelligenza Artificiale in Radiologia: Sfide e Prospettive per l'Innovazione dei Percorsi Diagnostici, Online
- Presentation “La strategia Europea per l’innovazione del medical imaging”
- 23 September 2025Bridging Regulatory Science and Medical AI at MICCAI 2025, Daejeon, South Korea
- Participation in panel discussions: “From Challenge to Change: Regulatory‑Driven Medical AI Innovation”
- 10 September 2025Technology Forum Life Sciences 2025, Milan, Italy
- 23 June 2025NCP France Pathfinder Challenges Info Day, Online
- Presentation of the Pathfinder Challenge on Generative AI
- 11 June 2025EIC Corporate Day with Clariane, Paris, France
- Keynote lecture at the EIC Corporate Day with Clariane
- 9 June 2025EIC Investor Roundtables – Medical Devices Session, Online
- Participated in the roundtable session;
- Offered support in selecting EIC-backed startups to showcase;
- Engaged in panel discussion on market trends and collaboration opportunities
- 26 May 2025Info Event EIC Pathfinder Challenge: Generative-AI based Agents to Revolutionize Medical Diagnosis and Treatment of Cancer, Online
- 21 May 2025Stakeholder Workshop on Breakthrough Technologies – Technology Group MDGC of DG SANTE, Brussels, Belgium
- Participation as a member of the MDGC group on emerging technologies
- 10-11 April 2025Advanced Innovative Materials for Health workshop, Braga, Portugal
- Presentation of EIC and its role in advanced materials for medical devices
- Moderation of a session on regulations in advanced materials for medical devices
- 8 April 2025Nanomedicine for Today and Tomorrow Workshop – Joint initiative EIC – ETPN, Online
- Nanomedicine Today & Tomorrow - presentation of EIC portfolio
- 2 April 2025EMA workshop: Navigating Regulatory Pathways for Emerging Health Technologies at the EIC Summit, Brussels, Belgium
- Speaker in a session exploring EMA’s role in shaping regulatory frameworks for AI-driven devices and combination products
- 28 March 2025AI in Healthcare: EU Priorities and Ecosystem Synergies, Online
- 25-26 March 2025Healthcare business international - HBI 2025, Paris, France
- Panellist and closing speaker in the SPIN4EIC Matchmaking Event, supporting EIC innovators in dialogue with healthcare procurers;
- Opening speaker and panel participant in the Investor Workshop, highlighting the EIC Accelerator’s role in supporting AI and medical imaging SMEs.
- 21 March 2025IHI Alzheimer's Diseases – Neurodegenerative Diseases project coordination meeting, Brussels, Belgium
- 27-29 February 2025European Congress of Radiology ECR 2025, Vienna, Austria
- Speaker at the sessions: "Quality control and post-market surveillance of AI medical software" & "European Collaboration in AI: Unlocking Funding for Medical Imaging Projects"
- ECR 2025 Aftermovie
- 6 February 2025European Cancer Imaging Initiative - Joining forces for AI-powered imaging to save lives
- 4 February 2025Towards Sustainable and Healthy Living with the Use of AI and Other Digital Solution, Brussels, Belgium
- Speaker in the session “Unlocking Innovation with the EIC: Spotlight on the Pathfinder” at the Permanent Representation of Lithuania to the EU
- 12 December 2024Spin4EIC and Targeted Matchmaking: Collaborative Initiatives with SMEs and Lombardy Region
- Online webinar
- 10 December 2024CONNECT University on The European Cancer Imaging Initiative, Online
- Presentation on AI-based imaging solutions for cancer: current uptake, trends and future horizons; Cutting-edge innovations, market uptake and trends in research
- CONNECT University on The European Cancer Imaging Initiative
- 30 November - 3 December 2024Deep Tech Innovation in Medical Imaging - RSNA 2024, Chicago, USA
- hosted a session discussing the latest deep tech innovations in radiology, focusing on the roles of the EIC and ARPA-H in driving breakthroughs
- RSNA 2024 Official Website
- 26-27 September 2024ACES 2024, Paris, France
- Led a workshop on the role of radiology in transitioning to preventive and personalized medicine (3P medicine); C-suite event
- Link: ACES Paris
- 26 June 2024L'intelligenza artificiale può aiutare la diagnostica e la terapia? Rischi, benefici e opportunità nell'area sanitaria, Milan, Italy
- Presentation at the workshop "Activities and Funding of the European Community. Overview of AI Projects in Medical Imaging"
- 22-25 May 2024Vivatech, Paris, France
- 11 April 2024Advancing AI in Medical Imaging Workshop: Empowering EIC Innovators through Collaboration with Euro-BioImaging ERIC, Leuven, Belgium
- Organisation of a half-day matchmaking event to connect EIC-supported SMEs with Euro-BioImaging experts and clinicians
- 28 February - 3 March 2024ECR 2024 – European Congress of Radiology - Radiology Innovation & AI in Healthcare, Vienna, Austria
- Presentations: Quality Assurance for Medical Applications and Trustworthy AI
- ECR 2024 Aftermovie