Given ongoing medical innovation, it is essential that healthcare policy makers prepare for the costs of emerging health technologies that will enter the market. Horizon Scanning is an important tool used by such policy makers, which enables them to predict costs and prepare the necessary national budgets and resources required for health technology reimbursement. Horizon Scanning organizations generally use two main approaches: 1) Routine scanning, whereby ongoing ‘horizontal’ scans are performed to identify significant and urgent healthcare advances regardless of healthcare area; and 2) In-depth ‘vertical scanning’ which focuses on healthcare areas with known significant or unmet needs. Horizon Scanning organizations rely on regular communication with manufacturers in order to ensure that both routine and in-depth Horizon Scanning can be carried out efficiently. Using the information obtained from Horizon Scanning, the organizations put together technology briefings, alerts and in-depth Horizon Scanning reports which can be made publicly available minus confidential information. Horizon Scanning organizations in different countries require information on emerging technologies at different times. Some require information once phase III clinical trials have been initiated, whilst others can range in requiring information from three to one years prior to expected market entry. The data requested across European Horizon Scanning organizations broadly include some or all of the following; product name, indication, regulatory status, mechanism of action, epidemiology, likely comparator products, current clinical research evidence, potential product benefits, costs of product and comparators, estimated net budget impact, information and service implications. If manufacturers proactively engage with Horizon Scanning organizations, it allows healthcare reimbursement agencies to optimally prepare for the arrival of new healthcare technologies, thus increasing the likelihood of patients with unmet needs gaining access to new technologies in a timely manner.