Six Months In: BE READY Takes Stock and Sets Priorities for the Rest of 2026
June 2026: A unique opportunity to take stock of progress achieved to date and to outline priorities for the rest of the year
The first half of the year has been remarkably productive, notably marked by the successful launch ceremony organised in February in Paris, which set a strong foundation for our collaboration.
A strong start in the BE READY partnership and an upcoming General Assembly in Vienna
From January to June 2026, all Work Packages (WPs) have successfully launched their activities, held their kick-off meetings, and established regular monthly exchanges. Work across the different tasks has begun with both enthusiasm and strong commitment.
The first six months were marked by four Operating Group (OG) meetings. These meetings brought together the leaders of the partnership’s 18 WPs and representatives of the European Community as observers, reflecting the strong collective engagement across all areas of BE READY. They help reinforce synergies and alignment across the project. The latest OG meeting, which was held online on 17 June, was a unique opportunity to review the progress achieved to date and to outline priorities for the rest of the year.
The next General Assembly, the first since the launch ceremony on 1 January, will be hosted by AGES in Vienna in 2027. AGES, a partner of BE READY, is a company of Austria dedicated to protecting the health of people, animals and plants.
BE READY’s response to the Andes hantavirus outbreak
In early May 2026, a cluster of severe respiratory illness aboard the cruise ship MV Hondius was formally notified to WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Three BE READY’s WPs (WP10, WP 11 and WP 12), which support the development of an ‘ever-warm’ research ecosystem (a research ecosystem that remains prepared and responsive), have recently played an active role in the response to the Andes hantavirus outbreak.
As a reminder, WP10 aims to build a sustained and integrated European ecosystem of research infrastructures dedicated to basic and preclinical research for pandemic preparedness and response, WP11 focuses on social and public health research, while WP12 is responsible for establishing and coordinating a network of clinical research site networks capable of rapidly pivoting in emergency situations.
The BE READY partnership responded to the WHO request to support the NAVIS study (Natural History of Andes Virus Infection in a Shipboard Outbreak), involving 13 European countries. The study is coordinated through WP12 and the French agency ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases (ANRS MIE), in close collaboration with Ecraid, ISARIC, Penta and University College London. BE READY has also played a key role in coordinating with European mechanisms and institutions, mobilising its Research & Development ecosystem to identify research needs and capacities.
Strengthening Europe’s pandemic preparedness: the 2026 Joint Transnational Call and beyond
The first stage of the 2026 Joint Transnational Call (JTC2026) has now been completed, and the second stage is underway. Tunisia has joined the call as an external funder, further strengthening its international dimension.
A total of 71 pre-proposals were submitted, requesting approximately €77.9 million in funding. With current commitments from national funding agencies amounting of €20.4 million, the call was significantly oversubscribed. Following the evaluation by the international evaluation committee on 9–10 June and discussion by the Call Steering Committee on 16 June, 43 of the 61 eligible pre-proposals were invited to submit a full proposal. Full proposals will be evaluated in mid-October.
Preparations for JTC2027 are also progressing, with the next call expected to be launched in January 2027.
BE READY’s participation at various external events
BE READY has been actively represented at several key European events, including the Health Partnerships Day in Brussels, the PEITHO (Platform for European Interdisciplinary, Transdisciplinary, Holistic One Health) webinar on One Health Research and Innovation, the PREPARE-EU Workshop in Germany, and the 2nd RICH Europe Symposium on Research Infrastructures in Italy, contributing to strengthening synergies between EU-funded initiatives and advancing coordinated pandemic preparedness efforts. In parallel, BE READY partners took part in events such as PandemNett, a new Norwegian network for pandemic research preparedness, and the European Competitiveness seminar on Health Research & Innovation, highlighting the importance of stronger transnational collaboration across Europe.
Keeping the pandemic preparedness community informed
The BE READY LinkedIn account has been actively developed, with numerous posts published to enhance visibility and engagement. The new website is currently being finalised and will be available soon. Additionally, a monthly internal newsletter will be introduced starting in September 2026 to ensure regular updates and communication among partners.