PANDEM-2 implements and demonstrates the most important novel concepts and IT systems to improve the capacity of European pandemic planning and response. Following the PANDEM project (with the same coordinator and many shared partners) and extensive subsequent stakeholder engagement, research and prioritisation, PANDEM-2 meets the real-world needs of public health agencies responsible for pandemics (‘pandemic managers’) and first responders across Europe. PANDEM-2 will enable and demonstrate the capture and integration of pandemic-relevant data from international systems (Go.Data outputs, EWRS, TESSy, etc.), participative surveillance (Influenzanet, Studybugs, etc.), fron laboratory (next generation sequencing) systems and from social media (Twitter, Reddit). This data will be accessible and can be analysed via an online dashboard, designed and built to support the specific needs of pandemic managers. Additional high-priority tools for pandemic spread prediction, visual analytics and resources management, including workforce capacity mapping, will improve preparedness and planning, and enable pandemic managers to be as well positioned as possible for a pandemic when it comes. In order to test the system, while also networking and building relationships across borders and organisations, pandemic managers and first responders from multiple Member States will work together in EU-wise demonstrations, planning and responding to several pandemic scenarios, from Ebola to SARS/MERS CoV, to pandemic influenza. Pandemic communications, highlighted as a key capability gap, will be addressed by resource creation, training and evaluation.

BE READY PLUS aims to extend and enhance the efforts initiated by BE READY in preparing for pandemic response across Europe. The primary objective is to establish a robust and coordinated European Partnership (EP) for pandemic preparedness, fostering strategic alignment among Member States, Associated Countries, and key stakeholders. This will be achieved through the following key pillars: 1) Paving the way for the future European Partnership: BE READY PLUS will provide the necessary administrative and organizational support to ensure a smooth transition to the EP. This includes drafting operational procedures, governance frameworks, preparing requirements to launch Joint Transnational Calls, and engaging key stakeholders to create a solid research and innovation framework. 2) Paving the way for pandemic preparedness: The Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) established by BE READY will be disseminated and updated to reflect new research needs and gaps. BE READY PLUS will also prepare the ground for ever-warm networks of clinical, study sites across Europe, ensuring rapid response capabilities for future health threats. 3) Maximizing the impact of BE READY PLUS: This pillar ensures comprehensive communication and dissemination activities, leveraging digital platforms while maintaining crucial engagements. It aims to engage a wide range of stakeholders, from scientific communities to policymakers and the public, to foster collaboration and increase awareness about pandemic preparedness. BE READY PLUS builds on the successful foundation of BE READY, expanding the consortium to 31 partners from 21 countries, by the addition of 10 new partners and 5 new countries. We will work in synergy with a broad range of European stakeholders and initiatives. Overall, BE READY PLUS will contribute to a more resilient Europe by preparing a detailed operational framework, fostering strategic coordination, and ensuring readiness for swift response to future health crises.

The European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA) aims to improve the health and well-being of the 30 million people living with a rare disease in Europe, by making Europe a world leader in Rare Disease (RD) research and innovation, to support concrete health benefits to rare disease patients, through better prevention, diagnosis and treatment. This Partnership will deliver a RD ecosystem that builds on the successes of previous programmes by supporting robust patient need-led research, developing new diagnostic methods and pathways, spearheading the digital transformational change connecting the dots between care, patient data and research, while ensuring strong alignment of strategies in RD research across countries and regions. Structuring goal-oriented public-private collaborations targeted at interventions all along the R&D value chain will ensure that the journey from knowledge to patient impact is expedited, thereby optimising EU innovation potential in RD. To support its ambition and missions ERDERA has been designed as a comprehensive and integrated ecosystem of which structure can be compared to an institute encompassing three main parts: (i) funding, (ii) internal (in house) Clinical Research Network that implements research activities targeting clinical trial readiness of RDs and accelerating diagnosis and translation of research discovery into improved patient care, and (iii) related supporting services (Data, Expertise, Education and Training) as well as an acceleration hub that serve external and internal RD community, all supported by all-embracing coordination and strategy and foundational (inter)national alignment.