Norway’s Role in Strengthening EU Pandemic Research Preparedness

Norway plays an active role in establishing a European strategy and research and innovation ecosystem for pandemic preparedness and response, creating new possibilities for research communities.

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic exposed critical gaps in research coordination, with fragmented efforts and insufficient infrastructure. In response, the EU increased investments through Horizon Europe and EU4Health to strengthen collaboration and coordination across health research initiatives.

Aligned with these efforts, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) plays a key role in establishing the EU-funded European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness, a research and innovation ecosystem designed to be prepared for future health crises caused by infectious diseases. This system can scale during emergencies and is integrated into European Health Security framework. Here, we outline progress, connections to existing initiatives, and the impact on Norwegian research communities.

Project description
The Partnership is established in a three-staged Coordination and Support Action under Horizon Europe. The first stage, Be Ready (2022-25), develops a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) to prioritise health crisis research and outlines the Partnership structure, including its EU funding strategy. The second stage, Be Ready Plus (2025), strengthens infrastructure, including the structure of ever-warm clinical research networks, that can rapidly scale during crises.

Results
Following approval of the third stage, the Partnership, Be Ready Now, will launch in 2026, with NIPH playing a central role. This initiative will establish EU-wide research networks for large, coordinated studies across basic, preclinical, clinical, public health and social science research, collaborating closely with European and international organisations.

Norwegian research groups have a significant opportunity to influence pandemic preparedness—but must stay informed and engaged. To enhance Norway’s role, NIPH is forming a national pandemic research network, offering a platform for collaboration, leadership, and access to opportunities. This will enable Norwegian researchers to boost infrastructure, enhancing national preparedness and global health security. Now is the time to collaborate and lead in shaping the future of pandemic response.

What we have learned
The development of the Partnership addresses the need for coordinated, EU-wide pandemic research and sustained international collaboration. The Be Ready workstream demonstrates the value of aligning research priorities across countries, while ever-warm clinical trial networks will be vital for rapid scaling in emergencies.

These insights will shape efforts to strengthen research infrastructure and formalise Norway’s national pandemic research network. By enhancing coordination and influence in EU research, Norway will be better positioned to contribute to a more resilient global health landscape.