The European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness (BE READY NOW) 2026 Joint International Call for Proposals is now open for applications!

The BE READY NOW Partnership 2026 Joint International Call for Proposals (JTC 2026), aimed at enhancing the capacity to predict infectious health threats, is now open for applications.

The call aims to increase scientific understanding and evidence-based knowledge of potentially epidemic and re-emerging pathogens and their infection-induced host responses, and to enhance the capacity to predict, prevent, and respond to infectious health threats through a multinational, collaborative, and interdisciplinary approach integrating research and development. The scope of the call addresses the first priority of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and focuses on Action 1.1 (Increasing knowledge on understanding, identifying, and addressing therapeutic targets on pathogens) and Action 1.2 (Increasing knowledge on pathophysiology).

Project proposals should target only one or more viruses belonging to the following families. Project proposals addressing global approaches to the entire family of these pathogens may also include:

Arenaviridae

Coronaviridae

Filoviridae

Flaviviridae

Hantaviridae

Nairoviridae

Orthomyxoviridae

Paramyxoviridae

Phenuiviridae

Poxviridae

Togaviridae

“Pathogen X”

Project proposals should demonstrate the following aspects:

Proposals should be hypothesis-driven, with a strong emphasis on reliable and rigorous methodology.

The consortium structure should be interdisciplinary; that is, consortia are expected to include partners with expertise from different relevant disciplines (e.g., basic/preclinical research, clinical research, computer science/bioinformatics, veterinary science, public health, social and environmental science) to create a broad and thematically diverse research approach to pandemic prevention and response and pathogen spectra. The added value of working together (international and interdisciplinary) on the proposed research question(s) should be demonstrated.

Proposals should consider gender, social gender and/or diversity aspects in research plans.

Furthermore, the following aspects are encouraged in project proposals:

Research projects concerning specific populations or vulnerable groups,

Inclusion of highly innovative methodologies or cutting-edge technologies to advance the development of health innovations,

Collaboration with the private sector/private organizations,

Utilization of existing cohorts and datasets.

The following topics are outside the scope of this call:

Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens (resistant to antibiotics and antifungal agents). AMR outbreaks are topics addressed in detail in other networks/organizations such as the European One Health Antimicrobial Resistance Partnership (EUP OHAMR),

Research addressing priority actions 1.3 (Increasing knowledge about environmental and social aspects driving pathogen emergence) and 1.4 (Increasing knowledge about transmission dynamics and epidemiology),

Clinical studies.

Only international projects will be funded. Each consortium submitting a proposal must consist of at least three research groups from different countries, at least two of which must be from EU Member States or Associated Countries, funded by the organizations specified in the English call for proposals. The number of research groups in a consortium is limited to six. If a research group from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Moldova, or the private sector is present in the consortium, the number of partners in the consortium can be increased to seven. Researchers from non-funding countries may also participate in projects, provided they secure their own funding and demonstrate additional contributions to the consortium, provided that the number of research groups does not exceed the aforementioned number.

Call for Proposals and Application:

A two-stage international evaluation will be conducted by the BE READY NOW Joint Call Secretariat. Preliminary proposals received in the first stage will be evaluated by international external consultants, and those successful in the first stage will be asked to submit full proposals in the second stage. Applications for preliminary proposals opened on January 19, 2026, and the deadline for applications is April 13, 2026 (13:00, CET). Preliminary and full proposals can be jointly prepared by partners, but applications must be submitted only by coordinators using the international BE READY NOW electronic application system. Furthermore, researchers applying from Turkey must submit a national application. Applicants must complete their applications with an electronic signature by selecting the “BE READY NOW JTC2026 Phase 1” section under “Multiple Collaboration Support Programs (Phase 1)” on the Project Application System no later than April 20, 2026 (23:59, TSİ).

In the JTC 2026 call; Researchers working in Turkey will be supported under the TÜBİTAK 1071 Support Program for Increasing Capacity to Benefit from International Research Funds and Participation in International R&D Collaborations.