EVORA: European Research Infrastructures Join Forces to Strengthen Pandemic Response and Preparedness
Graz, Austria – 18 June 2025 — The European Viral Outbreak Response Alliance (EVORA) project marked a major milestone today as its General Assembly concluded with a high-level roundtable hosted by the Medical University of Graz. Gathering leading scientists, infrastructure operators, and public health experts from across Europe, the event marked a unified commitment to strengthening Europe’s research infrastructure ecosystem in the face of emerging viral threats.
Launched in January 2024 and funded under the Horizon Europe programme of the European Union, EVORA brings together three major European Research Infrastructures – EVA, ERINHA, and ELIXIR – to establish an interoperable, synergistic alliance for pandemic preparedness and response. This initiative, coordinated by Université d’Aix-Marseille, unites 21 partners from across 11 EU Member States to tackle scientific, regulatory, and operational challenges posed by high-consequence viral pathogens.
Today’s closing roundtable addressed the evolving role of research infrastructures (RIs) in Europe’s pandemic preparedness architecture. Participants explored how EVORA’s collaborative framework can serve as a long-term catalyst for integrated, rapid responses to future viral outbreaks. The roundtable also discussed governance , and best practices , which are at the heart of EVORA’s ambition to enable European scientific excellence in "inter-crisis" mode and during emergencies.
“EVORA is not just a project – it's a blueprint for how Europe’s world-class RIs can work as one in times of need,” said Professor Bruno Coutard, project coordinator.
Through this alliance, Europe’s research infrastructures are reinforcing the continent’s ability to act swiftly and independently in the face of health crises – helping to protect societies and uphold European sovereignty in critical moments.
With just 18 months into its 36-month journey, EVORA is already laying the groundwork for a sustainable European alliance of RIs that can respond quickly and effectively to future pandemics. The Graz roundtable crystallized this ambition, offering a strategic moment of reflection and momentum-building for the consortium and its stakeholders.