Joint Transnational Call 2026 for the BE READY Partnership: Advancing knowledge of host and pathogens dynamics to better combat emerging diseases
Programme Category
Programme Name
Identifier Code
Call
Summary
The aim of this call is to increase scientific understanding and evidence-based knowledge on emerging and re-emerging pathogens with pandemic potential as well ason the host responses triggered by infection in order to improve our capacity to anticipate, prevent and respond to infectious health threats through a multinational, collaborative and interdisciplinary approach that bridges research and development.
Detailed Call Description
The scope of the call is primarily addressing Priority 1 of the SRIA (Accelerate knowledge in a coordinated and integrative manner), focusing on the proposed Action 1.1 (Increase knowledge on understanding, identifying and addressing therapeutic targets on pathogens) and Action 1.2 (Increase knowledge on pathophysiology).
Therefore, proposals are expected to deliver results that are directed towards and contributing to at least one of the following expected outcomes:
- Identification of novel pathogen-specific molecular targets and mutation hotspots (i.e. discovery of critical proteins, enzymes or signalling molecules that play a central role in pathogen infectivity, survival and/or resistance);
- Improving the understanding of cross-species (zoonotic) aspects of host– pathogen interactions (in the context of the One Health approach);
- Application of the “Pathogen X” approach to generate transferable knowledge that can then be applied to other threatening viruses of the same family;
- Identification, development and optimisation of (new) structures with optimal therapeutic activity and low toxicity that can be potential lead compounds (particularly for vulnerable groups);
- Identification and validation of targets, alongside data integration, interoperability and modelling efforts to demonstrate the potential of these targets, including antigenic structures suitable for vaccine development, for subsequent therapeutic development (i.e. proof-of-concept studies);
- Improving data integration and modelling to predict pathogen behaviour and therapeutic susceptibilities;
- Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions, in humans including host predisposing factors, to guide future diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine development;
- Development and improvement of advanced immunological assays, experimental models and preclinical studies that link host genetics to disease outcomes.
Proposals should focus exclusively on one or multiple viruses belonging to the families listed below. Proposals addressing global approaches towards a whole family of these pathogens are also feasible.
- Arenaviridae
- Coronaviridae
- Filoviridae
- Flaviviridae
- Hantaviridae
- Nairoviridae
- Orthomyxoviridae
- Paramyxoviridae
- Phenuiviridae
- Poxviridae
- Togaviridae
- “Pathogen X”
Beyond the listed research aspects, proposals must demonstrate the following aspects:
- Proposals must be hypothesis-driven and should have a strong emphasis on reliable and rigorous methodology;
- The composition of the consortium must be interdisciplinary, i.e. it is expected that consortia must include partners with expertise from different, relevant disciplines (e.g. basic/pre-clinical research, clinical research, computing science/bioinformatics, veterinary science, Public Health, social and environmental science) to create a broad, thematically diverse research approach in terms of pandemic prevention and response and pathogen spectra. Added value from working together (transnational and interdisciplinary) on the proposed research question(s) must be demonstrated;
- Proposals must take into account sex and gender dimensions, and/or diversity aspects in their research plan/activities.
Furthermore, the following aspects for proposal submissions are explicitly encouraged:
- Research questions related to specific populations or vulnerable groups;
- The inclusion of highly innovative methodologies or state of the art technologies in order to advance the development of health innovations;
- Collaboration with the private sector/private entities is encouraged (see Annex A for national/regional eligibility criteria for the funding of industry partners);
- The use of existing cohorts and data sets.
Excluded are the following topics / aspects:
- Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) pathogens (resistant to antibiotics and antifungal agents). AMR pandemic will be addressed in detail in other networks/organisations such as the European partnership on One Health Antimicrobial Resistance (EUP OHAMR);
- Research addressing SRIA priority actions 1.3 (Increase knowledge on environmental and social aspects driving pathogen emergence) and 1.4 (Increase knowledge on transmission dynamics and epidemiology);
- Clinical studies (Clinical study covers clinical studies/trials/investigations/cohorts and means, for the purpose of this document, any systematic prospective or retrospective collection and analysis of health data obtained from individual patients or healthy persons in order to address scientific questions related to the understanding, prevention, diagnosis, monitoring or treatment of a disease, mental illness, or physical condition. It includes but it is not limited to clinical trials as defined by Regulation 536/2014 (on medicinal products), clinical investigation and clinical evaluation as defined by Regulation 2017/745 (on medical devices), performance study and performance evaluation as defined by Regulation 2017/746 (on in vitro diagnostic medical devices).
The funded projects are expected to generate scientific knowledge and innovative tools that strengthen European and global pandemic preparedness, inform evidence-based policy-making, and/or contribute to the development of novel countermeasures (diagnostics, therapeutics and preventive strategies) with a potential for rapid deployment during future health emergencies.
Call Total Budget
Financing percentage by EU or other bodies / Level of Subsidy or Loan
Each partner involved in the project will be funded by its national/regional funding organisations. The consortium must therefore also comply with all the relevant national/regional eligibility rules.
Double funding of research projects is not permitted. The JCS and national/ regional funding organisations may perform cross-checks against other funding initiatives managed by the same organisations (both national/regional calls and Joint Transnational Calls). In addition, there can be no double funding for activities already receiving EU funding, e.g. through Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe. To avoid conflicts of interest, staff directly involved in the call implementation are not eligible to apply to this call and must maintain strict confidentiality (Firewall measures) regarding any sensitive/confidential information related to the call.
For information on the specific funding rules and eligibility criteria of the national/regional funding organisation:
- read Annex A (page 19of this call text) and
- in addition, applicants must contact their relevant funding organisation before applying; please note that for some countries/regions it might be mandatory.
Important note to applicants: Applications to the BE READY Partnership JTCs can require the submission of additional information on national funding platforms. All applicants must have fulfilled both joint and national requirements for an application to be eligible.
Funding is in accordance with national/regional regulations and applicable legal provisions. Funded project partners will be funded by their relevant national/regional funding organisation. Therefore, eligible entities, eligible costs, funding rules and the type of studies allowed will vary between the respective funding organisations (see Annex A, page 19). Thus, each project partner must define its own budget in accordance with the funding rules of its own country/region. Please note that some funding organisations may limit the maximum budget applicants can request within a consortium.
The maximum duration of the projects is 36 months.
Thematic Categories
- Health
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Research, Technological Development and Innovation
Eligibility for Participation
- Businesses
- Educational Institutions
- Large Enterprises
- Legal Entities
- NGOs
- Other Beneficiaries
- Private Bodies
- Researchers/Research Centers/Institutions
- Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)
Eligibility For Participation Notes
In total, 21 funding organisations have agreed to launch the first JTC in the BE READY Partnership (JTC 2026). Among the Participating Countries are Greece (funding organisation: the General Secretariat for Research and Innovation (GSRI)) and the Czech Republic (Ministry of Health of Czech Republic (MZCR) /Czech Health Research Council (AZVCR)).
Each consortium participant will be funded by the Funding Organisation from its country/region participating in this joint transnational call. Participants are therefore subject to the eligibility criteria of national/regional funding organisations, in addition to the general eligibility criteria of the call.
Composition of the transnational consortium
- Each consortium partner must be eligible to be funded by the respective regional/national participating funding organisation. If a partner is found to be non-eligible at any stage of the process by one of the funding organisations, the entire proposal could be rejected without further review.
- The consortium must involve a minimum of three (3) consortium partners (including the coordinator), from at least three (3) different eligible countries (including at least two EU Member States or associated countries), whose funding organizations participate in the call (see section 3: list of participating countries).
- The consortium may not have more than six (6) consortium partners (including external partner (own/in-kind budget))
- If the consortium includes an under-represented country or a company, the maximum number of project partners can be increased to seven (7) including the coordinator. – Per consortium, only one (1) partner can request funding from the same funding organisation. Exceptions may apply, see country- and region-specific guidelines in Annex A (page 19).
- The consortium coordinator cannot be changed between the first and second stage and can coordinate only one (1) submitted proposal. In addition, coordinators can be partner in max. one (1) other project proposal.
- Consortium partners cannot be involved in more than two (2) research proposals submitted to this call.
- It is permitted to include one (1) external partner from countries that are not participating in this call, but only if own funding is secured. A signed statement declaring that the external partner will run the project on own resources has to be enclosed in the proposal. The budget of non-funded partners must be included in the proposal (own/In-Kind-budget) and shall not exceed 20% of the requested total transnational project budget. External partners cannot be coordinator of a proposal. They have the same responsibilities as funded partners, i.e. they must accept all BE READY Partnership rules and guidelines as set out in this Call Text.
Modification of the composition of the consortium -Widening Process (between pre- and full proposal stage)
- Composition of the consortium should not be modified between the pre- and the full-proposal except for the following cases:
- widening
- in case of force majeure/unforeseen event (e.g. change of professional affiliation, lab relocation etc.), or
- upon recommendation of the review process or request of the Call Steering Committee (CSC).
Any changes in the composition of the consortium must be approved by the CSC ahead of the submission of the full proposal (at least 15 calendar days before the full proposal submission deadline to confirm the eligibility of the proposed modifications).