Why Wealthy Investors Are Betting Big on AI and HealthTech

Jan de Vries · 2026-10-12

Investment ambitions across the EU for AI and HealthTech are expansive. The EU's InvestAI initiative aims to mobilize €200 billion for artificial intelligence, including funding for major AI infrastructure. The European Commission and the European Investment Bank Group have also launched BioTechEU to mobilize €10 billion for biotech and life sciences in 2026 and 2027. That investment push comes as AI and healthcare are becoming increasingly popular among wealthy private investors globally. The UBS Global Family Office Report 2026 found that 65% of family offices were already invested in AI, and 33% were allocated to AI-enabled healthcare. Below, we'll explore why so much private capital is moving towards AI and HealthTech. ### Investing in AI and HealthTech in 2026 The scale of the EU's investment and infrastructure plans shows how strategically important AI has become. Infrastructure is one of the clearest examples. In July 2026, the EU requested up to seven AI Gigafactories, backed by up to €10 billion in EU and national funding and expected to unlock at least €20 billion in additional private investment across the Union. Life sciences are also an important part of the EU economy, already contributing nearly €1.5 trillion in value and supporting 29 million jobs. The EU is now trying to increase investment further through initiatives such as BioTechEU, which is designed to mobilize €10 billion for biotechnology and life sciences investment during 2026 and 2027. The European Commission's wider life sciences strategy also includes measures to make it easier to fund multi-country clinical trials and €300 million to stimulate the procurement of life sciences innovations, including next-generation vaccines and affordable cancer solutions. As investment moves into high-growth sectors, investors can also explore private-market opportunities through firms such as Top Business Ventures, which operates across venture capital, private equity and real estate markets. ### AI and HealthTech Sector Growth The EU has a massive life sciences industry with major research institutions, healthcare systems, and rapidly expanding AI infrastructure, which helps explain investor interest. By April 2026, 19 AI Factories had been deployed across European supercomputers, supported by 13 regional AI Factory antennas, giving researchers, startups and businesses greater access to AI computing capacity. EU and participating EuroHPC countries have committed more than €2.6 billion to the AI Factories and Antennas initiative. Then you've got the healthcare side. The European Health Data Space is designed to make health data easier to access and reuse securely across the EU for research, innovation and regulatory purposes, creating potentially valuable infrastructure for areas such as medical research and AI development. Other EU projects include building specialist datasets, including Cancer Image Europe, which is expected to provide access to 60 million cancer images by the end of 2026, and the 1+ Million Genomes initiative, which aims to provide secure access to genomic and associated clinical data. Interestingly, the EU is also trying to move AI from research into clinical settings. In 2026, the European Commission made €9 million available for two large-scale pilots of AI-powered medical imaging, covering technologies such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, PET and ultrasound. For investors, the attraction is that HealthTech is moving beyond laboratory research into real-world clinical testing and EU-backed deployment programs. ### Massive Capital Rotation From High-Net-Worth Investors It's difficult to track exactly what every high-net-worth individual is investing in. Much private investment isn't publicly disclosed. But the UBS report gives us a clear signal: family offices are voting with their wallets. They're not just dabbling—they're allocating serious capital to AI and healthcare. > "We're seeing a fundamental shift in where private wealth is flowing. AI and HealthTech are no longer niche bets; they're core holdings for many family offices." — Jan de Vries, E-commerce Consultant So why the pivot? For one, these sectors offer the potential for outsized returns. AI is transforming everything from drug discovery to diagnostics, and HealthTech is riding that wave. Plus, with EU backing, there's a safety net of public investment that de-risks private capital. Another factor: the sheer scale of the opportunity. The EU's life sciences sector alone is worth nearly €1.5 trillion, and AI infrastructure is being built out at record speed. Investors see a chance to get in early on the next wave of innovation. And it's not just about returns. Many high-net-worth individuals are also motivated by impact—they want their money to drive positive change in healthcare and technology. That's a powerful combination. ### What This Means for You If you're an investor, the message is clear: AI and HealthTech are where the smart money is going. But it's not just about following the herd. It's about understanding the underlying trends and identifying the opportunities that align with your goals. For startups, the EU's investment push is a golden opportunity. With initiatives like InvestAI and BioTechEU, there's more support than ever for innovative companies in these spaces. If you're building in AI or HealthTech, now is the time to capitalize on that momentum. And for everyone else? Keep an eye on these sectors. They're not just shaping the future of finance—they're shaping the future of our health and economy.