The European Commission has been at the forefront of supporting research and innovation and coordinating European and global research efforts, including preparedness for pandemics.
So far €4.1 billion has been invested from 2007 to 2019 through the 7th Framework Programme and Horizon 2020 in infectious diseases research. In addition to a number of past, and ongoing, research actions related to coronaviruses and outbreaks, the Commission also launched several special actions in 2020, as part of a €1 billion pledge for coronavirus research. These actions address epidemiology, preparedness and response to outbreaks, the development of diagnostics, treatments and vaccines, as well as the infrastructures and resources that enable this research. Horizon Europe the EU research & innovation framework programme for 2021-2027 will continue to invest in research and innovation to tackle infectious diseases including poverty-related and neglected diseases.
The Commission and national ministries have also agreed on the first ERAvsCorona action plan which lays out 10 priority short-term coordinated actions to tackle coronavirus. The action plan is already delivering results.
Highlights
HERA: Getting ready for future health emergencies
The European Commission has launched the European Health and Emergency Preparedness and response Authority (HERA) with the aim of preventing, detecting and rapidly responding to future health emergencies. Research and innovation will be a central piece in HERA, as the new authority sets out to promote and support the development of medical technologies and their production. HERA will fill a gap in the EU's current health emergency response and preparedness capacity and constitute a key pillar in the European Health Union.
- 11 January 2022 – Commission extends the validity of the Manifesto to maximise research results contribution to the fight against COVID-19
- 22 July 2021 - Commission steps up research funding with €120 million for 11 new projects to tackle the virus and its variants
- 23 June 2021 - Commission launches the Coronavirus Global R&I Collaboration Portal
- 6 May 2021 - Commission proposes EU Strategy for the development and availability of therapeutics - Factsheet
- 7 April 2021 - Commission mobilises €123 million for research and innovation to combat the threat of coronavirus variants
- 17 February 2021 - EU to invest €150 million for research to counter coronavirus variants
- 25 March 2021 - EU-funded researchers develop potential new treatment against SARS-CoV-2
- 10 March 2021 - EU support to innovators yields promising results one year on - Factsheet
- 8 January 2021 - EU funded clinical trial finds new treatments to be effective
- 11 November 2020 - EC invests in preparedness and response to infectious disease outbreaks
- 5 November - €128 million granted for research on socio-economic impact of pandemic
- 30 September 2020 - €459 million invested in coronavirus projects so far in 2020
- 17 June 2020 - Commission unveils EU vaccines strategy - R&I for vaccine development
- 10 June 2020 - EU strengthens action to tackle coronavirus disinformation
- 8 June 2020 - EU grants €314 million to innovative companies to combat virus and support recovery
- 14 May 2020 - ERA corona platform offers one-stop shop for research and innovation funding
- 12 May 2020 - €117 million granted for treatments and diagnostics through the ΙΜΙ
- 4 May 2020 - Coronavirus Global Response, €1 billion will be mobilised to fight virus
- 6 March 2020 - 18 new research projects awarded €48.2 million - Factsheet