Joint event - Concept Note - From European Preparedness to Global Resilience: The Strategic Role of European Research Infrastructures
5th November 2026, Brussels
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that preparedness against global health threats relies on sustainable, interconnected Research Infrastructures (RIs) capable of rapidly mobilizing expertise, technologies, data, biological resources, and services at scale. One of the key lessons learned is that preparedness cannot be built during a crisis alone; it requires continuous investment in research facilities, scientific expertise, collections, networks, and training.
As emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, climate-sensitive pathogens, and zoonotic spillovers continue to challenge global health security, European Research Infrastructures have become essential pillars of Europe’s preparedness and response. They provide the laboratory capacities, biological resources, data platforms, governance frameworks, and trusted networks needed to translate scientific knowledge into operational readiness.
In the post-COVID19 era, European RIs have increasingly joined forces through large-scale collaborative initiatives that integrate complementary capacities across the preparedness continuum. Several EU-funded flagship projects illustrate the added value of this approach. EVORA is building a coordinated outbreak research alliance that connects high-containment laboratories through ERINHA, viral resources through EVA, and data platforms through ELIXIR, enabling rapid scientific mobilization during health emergencies. ISIDORe demonstrated the power of RI integration by providing a single-entry access mechanism to multidisciplinary expertise and services spanning virology, immunology, clinical research, social sciences, and other fields relevant to outbreak preparedness and response. INTERCEPTOR further expands this ecosystem by fostering trusted international collaboration among high-containment laboratories worldwide, strengthening global preparedness against biological threats.
The joint event, to be held on 5 November 2026 in Brussels, will showcase the achievements and impact of these flagship RI initiatives in strengthening European and global pandemic preparedness and response (PPR). It will provide a platform to discuss lessons learned, identify remaining gaps, and explore future priorities for a more coordinated and resilient preparedness ecosystem.
The event will focus on:
• Showcasing success stories, tangible outcomes, and impact generated by European Research Infrastructures in pandemic preparedness and response.
• Demonstrating how RIs create synergies across EU-funded initiatives to strengthen preparedness capacities in Europe and globally.
• Highlighting the role of RIs at the science-policy interface and their contribution to evidence-based decision-making in the European and international public health landscape.
• Discussing future priorities, opportunities, and ambitions for Research Infrastructures in preparedness and response.
The event will bring together policymakers, research infrastructures, public health authorities, funding agencies, and international partners to explore how Europe can further leverage its RI ecosystem as a strategic asset for addressing global challenges and enhancing readiness for future pandemics.
Download link:
The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that preparedness against global health threats relies on sustainable, interconnected Research Infrastructures (RIs) capable of rapidly mobilizing expertise, technologies, data, biological resources, and services at scale. One of the key lessons learned is that preparedness cannot be built during a crisis alone; it requires continuous investment in research facilities, scientific expertise, collections, networks, and training.
As emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases, climate-sensitive pathogens, and zoonotic spillovers continue to challenge global health security, European Research Infrastructures have become essential pillars of Europe’s preparedness and response. They provide the laboratory capacities, biological resources, data platforms, governance frameworks, and trusted networks needed to translate scientific knowledge into operational readiness.
In the post-COVID19 era, European RIs have increasingly joined forces through large-scale collaborative initiatives that integrate complementary capacities across the preparedness continuum. Several EU-funded flagship projects illustrate the added value of this approach. EVORA is building a coordinated outbreak research alliance that connects high-containment laboratories through ERINHA, viral resources through EVA, and data platforms through ELIXIR, enabling rapid scientific mobilization during health emergencies. ISIDORe demonstrated the power of RI integration by providing a single-entry access mechanism to multidisciplinary expertise and services spanning virology, immunology, clinical research, social sciences, and other fields relevant to outbreak preparedness and response. INTERCEPTOR further expands this ecosystem by fostering trusted international collaboration among high-containment laboratories worldwide, strengthening global preparedness against biological threats.
The joint event, to be held on 5 November 2026 in Brussels, will showcase the achievements and impact of these flagship RI initiatives in strengthening European and global pandemic preparedness and response (PPR). It will provide a platform to discuss lessons learned, identify remaining gaps, and explore future priorities for a more coordinated and resilient preparedness ecosystem.
The event will focus on:
• Showcasing success stories, tangible outcomes, and impact generated by European Research Infrastructures in pandemic preparedness and response.
• Demonstrating how RIs create synergies across EU-funded initiatives to strengthen preparedness capacities in Europe and globally.
• Highlighting the role of RIs at the science-policy interface and their contribution to evidence-based decision-making in the European and international public health landscape.
• Discussing future priorities, opportunities, and ambitions for Research Infrastructures in preparedness and response.
The event will bring together policymakers, research infrastructures, public health authorities, funding agencies, and international partners to explore how Europe can further leverage its RI ecosystem as a strategic asset for addressing global challenges and enhancing readiness for future pandemics.
Download link:
