Over the last four years, the Economist Events’ series of cancer summits in Europe has articulated the challenges and opportunities in improving cancer control. There is still considerable unmet patient and societal need; cancer control and preparedness varies among and within countries; and investment and health systems generally lag behind the advances in technology and services available to combat cancer. The way forward can seem dauntingly complex.

This year’s summit will look to solutions, not problems. It will build on the findings of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s recently released Index of Cancer Preparedness and explore examples and case studies from programmes that have navigated the complexities to genuinely “move the needle” on cancer control. We will celebrate the successes—even if at present these are small-scale—in areas of policy, regulation, investment, partnerships, systems and technology which have led to better outcomes for patients. We will dissect these examples and ask: What was accomplished? How? And how can we build on this progress?