Goals

The main goal of BE READY is to establish a consolidated research and innovation framework that provides the foundation of the expected future European partnership for pandemic preparedness to improve the EU European Union (European Union )’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. The European partnership itself will commence in 2025.

Consortium

The activities of BE READY will be conducted by a group of 24 organisations (19 partners and 5 Affiliated Entities) in the public domain from 15 different countries with complementary expertise and policy area ranging from Public Health Organisations, Ministries of Science and Health, Innovation to organisations for Environmental matters. All partners have a key role in their respective countries in preparedness and response activities. The consortium at the same time will act as a preparatory group for a larger community of stakeholders, EU and international initiatives related to Pandemic Preparedness and future partners of the candidate partnership on Pandemic Preparedness.

RIVM role

The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, ZonMw and RIVM are part of BE READY, on behalf of the Netherlands. BE READY developed an observatory with country profiles for all countries involved, including the national infrastructure during pandemics. The country profile for the Netherlands(PDF) was created in collaboration with ZonMw, the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and RIVM. 

In December 2022, a synthetic report(PDF), containing an overview of the gaps, challenges, priorities and strategies for pandemic preparedness and research and innovation was delivered. Through the means of a gap analysis, gaps and priorities in preparedness and response were identified and synthesised. Themes were identified in 14 pillars in terms of gaps, priorities for preparedness and response, and research and innovation priorities. The outcomes of this report will feed into developing a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda to be implemented in between and during epidemics/pandemics. RIVM had a leading role in the gap analysis. More information on the BE READY website.

RIVM is also involved in developing a highly flexible, fast response research action plan to be implemented during epidemics/pandemics. This will be an inventory of reviews, projects, networks and initiatives taken in the EU Member States, European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) with respect to pandemic preparedness and response. RIVM follows a One Health approach throughout the project.

RIVM colleagues involved: Tomris Cesuroglu, Corien Swaan, Joke van der Giessen, Kamelia Stanoeva and Anne de Fijter. Coordination by Eelco Franz and  Nika Ritsema. 

Funding

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 101057795.