On April 1st 2023, the NEED project was formally launched. The project is financially supported by the BELSPO INFRA-FED program and led by KCE and Sciensano, in partnership with the Federal Agency for Medicines and Health Products (FAMHP), National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (NIHDI) and the Superior Health Council (SHC). The NEED project aims to identify unmet patient and societal needs to inform and support the development of a more needs-driven healthcare policy and innovation. The NEED project will provide an evidence database on disease specific unmet patient and societal health-related needs.