As increasing numbers of neonates born preterm receive neonatal intensive care and survival rates continue to improve, the number of former preterm babies presenting an impairment in motor, sensory and cognitive functions dramatically increases. Out of the 500,000 babies annually born before term in Europe, by the time they reach school-age, 125,000 (25%) are expected to require a variable range of school support, paid-leave for families and caregivers and may not be able to achieve superior instructions due to a wide range of learning and motor disabilities that cannot be identified and effectively prevented during the early post-natal period. The prematurity associated disability cost for the first two years of life in Europe is estimated to be more than 50,000 € per year per baby. Addressing the global burden of preterm birth has been considered a pivotal task to achieve the third WHO Sustainable Development Goal – ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages – and to reduce preterm-related neonatal and child social burden.