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A word from DG HERA

In this interview, European Investment Bank Vice-President Marek Mora explains how DG HERA Invest, a flagship initiative under the EU4Health programme, supports the development of innovative medical countermeasures in Europe. He discusses how the €120 million venture debt facility helps SMEs and mid-caps scale up research, clinical trials and production, while addressing priority health threats such as pandemic pathogens, antimicrobial resistance and CBRN risks. The interview also highlights the strategic cooperation between DG HERA and the EIB to strengthen Europe’s preparedness and support breakthrough health innovations.

The European Commission published the Comprehensive Health Threat Prioritisation Assessment, the first major deliverable under the EU Medical Countermeasures Strategy. The assessment identified the most serious cross-border health threats facing the EU and provided an evidence base to guide preparedness and response planning. It highlighted priority areas including respiratory viruses with pandemic potential, vector-borne diseases, antimicrobial resistance and threats linked to conflict or CBRN risks. The assessment supports coordinated EU action to ensure timely access to vaccines, treatments, diagnostics and protective equipment.

DG HERA published a study examining the pharmaceutical manufacturing potential of the Western Balkans and Ukraine and its relevance for Europe’s preparedness in times of shortages and health crises. The analysis identified opportunities to scale up production of essential and generic medicines, strengthen supply chain integration and diversification, and foster investment and cooperation with EU partners. The study contributes to building a stronger evidence base for preparedness and supports closer collaboration with enlargement partners.

The European Commission is investing €225 million to develop next-generation influenza vaccines that provide protection against a wider range of variants and can be adapted quickly if a pandemic strain emerges. The investment supports innovative vaccine technologies that could offer easier administration options, such as nasal sprays, oral doses or skin patches. Funded through the EU4Health programme and implemented by the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), the initiative aims to strengthen Europe’s preparedness and accelerate the development of new medical countermeasures.

The ninth HERA Info Day took place in Nicosia, gathering over 100 participants to explore new opportunities for collaboration and funding in health emergency preparedness. The event reaffirmed DG HERA’s commitment to dialogue and coordination across Member States, strengthening Europe’s capacity to anticipate and respond to crises. Previous editions were held in Paris, Berlin, Warsaw, Budapest, Rome, Copenhagen, Tallinn and Dublin. The next edition is currently taking place in Madrid.

DG HERA launched its first innovation call to strengthen Europe’s preparedness against CBRN threats — chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear — with total funding of €30 million. The call supports new vaccines, therapeutics, diagnostics and personal protective equipment, and advances rapid multiplex diagnostics for vector-borne diseases such as dengue and West Nile virus, which are spreading with climate change. This initiative reinforces Europe’s resilience and protection against emerging threats.

At Expo Osaka, DG HERA, DG Research & Innovation and the EU Delegation to Japan showcased advances in wastewater and environmental surveillance (WES) via GLOWACON. WES complements clinical surveillance by detecting early signals of disease circulation, enabling faster responses. By expanding monitoring to pathogens such as Zika, mpox, H5N1 and chikungunya, and applying metagenomic analysis, DG HERA and partners are building a smarter, connected early-warning system — a cornerstone of One Health, One World.

To reinforce Europe’s readiness for health threats, DG HERA signed a joint procurement contract with the Spanish company HIPRA on behalf of 14 participating countries. The agreement allows Member States to access up to four million doses of the protein-based COVID-19 vaccine Bimervax®, ensuring flexible and timely supply. By diversifying the EU’s vaccine portfolio and supporting European production, DG HERA takes a concrete step towards a safer, healthier and better protected Europe.

Editorial

To strengthen Europe's vaccine readiness and responsiveness in times of pandemics, the European Vaccine Hub (EHV) was inaugurated in Siena. The initiative's key actions will, amongst others, speed-up vaccine development to less than four months from identifying a pathogen's genomic sequence.

The eight chapter of the HERA Info Day took place on 24 June in Dublin, Ireland, bringing together more than 100 participants from a wide range of sectors to explore opportunities for collaboration and funding in the field of health emergency preparedness. Following the Tallinn Info Day edition, this event reinforced HERA’s commitment to fostering dialogue with key stakeholders across Europe and ensuring a coordinated approach to health security.

On 2–3 June, Brussels played host to the 2025 edition of HERA Industry days, bringing together a dynamic mix of voices from across the public and private sectors. The two-day event welcomed policymakers, researchers, technical experts, innovators, and industry leaders to share knowledge, spark ideas, and collaborate on reinforcing Europe’s health preparedness.

Editorial

The HERA Stakeholders Hub is a dynamic space that aims to contribute to a stable and innovative supply of medical countermeasures and critical medicines across the EU. Discover what does the HERA Stakeholders Hub offer.

HERA’s strategy for the training and exercise programme has been adopted. The strategy establishes a comprehensive training framework to support EU Member States to prepare for and respond to serious cross border health threats while also guiding HERA’s capacity building activities. The strategy is the outcome of a broad consultation with key actors from the public, private and social sectors.

The sixth session of the HERA Info Days took place on 11 March in Copenhagen, Denmark, bringing together over 100 participants from a wide range of sectors to explore opportunities for collaboration and funding in the field of health emergency preparedness. Following the Rome Info Day edition, this event reinforced HERA’s commitment to fostering dialogue with key stakeholders across Europe and ensuring a coordinated approach to health security.

The first edition of HERA Industry Days will take place in Brussels on 2 and 3 June 2025, bringing together leading figures from across the medical countermeasure (MCM) ecosystem—including pharmaceutical companies, biotech firms, SMEs, start-ups, research institutions, and public health authorities.

The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) has launched the HERA Stakeholders Hub, a secure and multifunctional platform designed to enhance collaboration across the European pharmaceutical sector.

HERA has signed the second agreement under HERA Invest, its pioneering financial mechanism designed to support the research and development of medical countermeasures (MCMs) and technologies to address priority cross-border health threats.