Pandemic preparedness and response: Maintaining and enhancing the preparatory work for a co-funded European partnership for pandemic preparedness

The COVID-19 pandemic illustrated how unilateral research initiatives may lead to a fragmented research landscape, with substantial room for efficiency gains in the development of the highly needed evidence to guide policy actions when facing an emergency. A coordination and support action[[Project BE READY / grant agreement number 101057795, funded under topic HORIZON-HLTH-2021-DISEASE-04-06 "Building a European partnership for pandemic preparedness".]] is working towards improving the EU’s preparedness to predict and respond to emerging infectious health threats by better coordinating funding for research and innovation at EU, national (and regional) level towards common objectives and an agreed Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. This work should be complemented by efforts towards establishing, maintaining and enhancing a network of ever-warm clinical trials sites and infrastructures for clinical research, ready to be pivoted in case of a pandemic or epidemic episode. In addition, this work should be extended to additional partners, primarily from the EU and Horizon Europe associated countries. Participation from widening countries should be ensured, promoting an inclusive approach in the design and governance of the partnership.

The partnership will contribute to building a coherent European Research Area (ERA), enabling Member States, Associated Countries and the European Commission to rapidly and jointly support research and innovation in pandemic preparedness.

The Partnership is expected to continue to build on existing pandemic preparedness networks and research infrastructures and work in synergy with the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA).

Proposals should include all of the following activities:

• Provide administrative and organisational support to prepare, ensure a smooth start and transition towards the European partnership for pandemic preparedness that will eventually take over these tasks;
• Actively engage with relevant stakeholders and initiatives in the area of pandemic preparedness, ensuring collaboration and coordination, and avoiding duplication; e.g. the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint Undertaking, GloPID-R, WHO R&D blueprint, ACT Accelerator, etc.;
• Implement strong communication and dissemination activities at EU level and in Member States and Associated Countries, on the purpose, activities and outputs of the European partnership for pandemic preparedness, ensuring a continuous dialogue, both outside and during epidemic/pandemic episodes;
• As relevant, apply a cross-cutting, interdisciplinary One Health approach.

This topic requires the effective contribution of social sciences and humanities (SSH) disciplines and the involvement of SSH experts, institutions as well as the inclusion of relevant SSH expertise, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the societal impact of the related research activities.