As BE READY approaches its conclusion in May 2025, the final newsletter offers an overview of the project’s key achievements and a forward look at the next phase of work. Over the past three years, BE READY has brought together 25 partners from 16 countries to strengthen Europe’s pandemic preparedness through more coordinated and strategic research and innovation.

BE READY stands for “Building a European strategic Research and Innovation Area in Direct Synergy with EU and International Initiatives for Pandemic Preparedness” and is a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) funded with 2 million euros by the European Commission.

The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) is a central document for the future European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness. It aims to define the thematic priorities and strategic objectives of the Partnership, to foster alignment and to be a guiding document for the European research ecosystem.

The Pandemic Preparedness and Response Observatory compiles country profiles of EU Member States and Associated Countries to provide a clear inventory of R&I approaches to pandemic preparedness and response.

These profiles present key information on:
•    R&I policies and strategies
•    Research Infrastructure and funding mechanisms
•    Key actors and authorities
•    R&I response in case of emergency

The BE READY - BE READY PLUS conference, held in Brussels on April 8th and 9th, combined the conclusion of BE READY and the beginning of BE READY PLUS. It aimed to present the future European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness objectives and activities to Member States, Associated countries and Research funders, and to engage with EU and international stakeholders to strengthen the EU’s preparedness and response capacity in case of a health emergency.

Launched in January 2025, BE READY PLUS builds on the foundations laid by BE READY and is running for one year, focusing on ensuring a smooth transition from strategic planning to the implementation of the Partnership, by establishing operational structures that broaden the participation of EU Member States and Associated countries. This will include the preparation of the future Joint Transnational Calls funded by the Partnership to boost excellent research in pandemic preparedness.

BE READY and BE READY PLUS will jointly take part in the upcoming PREPARE-EU Spring School, hosted by KU Leuven on 2–3 June 2025 in Leuven, Belgium. Under the theme “Connecting European Expertise for Pandemic Preparedness”, the Spring School brings together 13 EU-funded projects that are actively shaping Europe’s preparedness for future health threats.

Public consultation of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) of the future European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness in Autumn/Winter 2024 

The BE READY Network Steering Committee Meeting took place in Madrid at the premises of Instituto de Salud Carlos III, over two days, on Tuesday, September 24th, and Wednesday, September 25th.

The two-day conference 'Europe united against old and new pandemics' which was organised under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU, concluded in Antwerp on 15 May 2024. This event marked an important step forward in the collective effort to improve global research and innovation (R&I) for pandemic preparedness and response.

Insightful sessions and inclusive discussions