BE READY: A new European Partnership launching its first activities in early 2026

The European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness BE READY, coordinated by ANRS Emerging Infectious Diseases, will officially begin its activities on 1 January 2026.

Last updated on 03 December 2025

What is the Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness BE READY?

BE READY aims to ensure that Europe is better prepared for the next epidemic or pandemic for the next 10 years;
Its first three-year phase brings together 81 partners from 27 countries, mobilising €118 million provided jointly by the European Union and participating national partners.

In 2026, news surrounding BE READY will focus on two major events: the launch of the Partnership’s first Joint Transational Call, and the official opening ceremony, which will take place on 17 February in Paris.

BE READY’s first Joint Transnational Call in January 2026

In January 2026, BE READY will launch its first Joint Transnational Call (JTC) for the scientific community. This call represents a first step in translating the Partnership’s Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) into action.

The call will support innovative, interdisciplinary, and collaborative multinational research projects focusing on:

Understanding the pandemic potential of emerging pathogens;
Investigating host–pathogen interactions and disease mechanisms;
Developing or informing novel medical countermeasures aligned with pandemic preparedness needs.

More details are to be announced soon.

Celebrating the launch of the Partnership – 17 February 2026, Paris

The European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness BE READY organizes an official opening ceremony on 17 February 2026 in Paris.

This high-level event will bring together:

200 participants from 27 partner countries;
Members of the BE READY consortium, and the broader preparedness community;
Representatives of the European Commission;
National ministries, research funding agencies, and public health authorities;
The World Health Organization and key international organisations.

The event will showcase BE READY’s vision for the next decade and underline Europe’s shared commitment to strengthening preparedness and response capacities. Discussions will highlight the Partnership’s role within the broader European Health Security Framework, its synergies with the European Commission, and its contribution to a global architecture for pandemic preparedness.

This public event will formally introduce the Partnership, building on the work initiated through the previous BE READY and BE READY PLUS projects (2022–2025).

At a time when Europe is reinforcing its resilience and readiness for future infectious disease threats, the public presentation of BE READY aims to foster a more coordinated, efficient, and impactful European research and innovation ecosystem for epidemic preparedness and response.