The Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) of the European Commission, through the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) supports the establishment of the “European Vaccines Hub (EVH) for Pandemic Readiness”, a pan-European center dedicated to advancing public-health–relevant vaccine development. The Grant Agreement has been signed today, marking a transformative step in public-health–relevant vaccine development.
By integrating excellence in vaccine research, human monoclonal antibody (H-mAbs) development, clinical trials, and scalable manufacturing activities, EVH creates a dynamic and collaborative European environment.
The EVH consortium is made up of 11 Beneficiaries, 13 Affiliated and Associated entities, from 7 different countries, including leading EU organizations directly involved in vaccine development and in charge of pandemic preparedness in their own countries. The EVH project is coordinated by the “Sclavo Vaccines Association”, a non-profit organization based in Siena devoted to support vaccine research and development.
The EVH project contributes to the development of an agreed set of pandemic-prototype vaccines and scalable technologies through a consortium of major EU Vaccine R&D institutions and manufacturers, ensuring effective coordination of national vaccine research programs. EVH aligns with the current international consensus on pandemic-vaccine development, leveraging insights from existing prototypes to enable the rapid selection and deployment of the most suitable vaccine candidates in an emerging pandemic.
Structured around four pillars supporting key activities and infrastructures of the vaccine development pipeline, EVH integrates leading European institutions with distinct expertise and in charge of pandemic preparedness in their own countries. In detail: Pillar 1 on “Discovery” is led by Fondazione Biotecnopolo di Siena (Italy), Pillar 2 on “Preclinicals studies” by Institut Pasteur (France), Pillar 3 on “Clinical studies” by Vaccinopolis (UAntwerpen, Belgium), and Pillar 4 on “Manufacturing” by DZIF and ZEPAI (Germany).
EVH aims thus not only to create a reactive R&D system and knowledge hub linking powerful leading research institutions, but also initiate vaccine-development projects, refining relevant processes and procedures within its framework. The focus is on a select group of pathogens deemed critical for pandemic preparedness, as identified in the recently issued WHO Pathogens Prioritization report for the European region. From prototype design to clinical applications, the EVH drives innovation, enhance clinical evaluation capacities, and coordinate efforts with manufacturers while optimizing the digitalization of vaccine design and distribution processes.
“The EVH represents a transformative initiative to strengthen Europe’s ability to respond to future health emergencies,” said Rino Rappuoli, Scientific Director of Fondazione Biotecnopolo di Siena. “By uniting top vaccine developers, Biotechs and academia cross Europe, we aim to drive innovation and ensure strategic autonomy in vaccine R&D and manufacturing.”
Prof. Donata Medaglini, Vice Rector of the University of Siena and EVH Scientific Coordinator added: “The EVH marks a decisive step toward building a resilient and proactive vaccine ecosystem in Europe. It reflects a unique collaborative effort among institutions committed to scientific excellence and global health security.”
As stated by Prof. Yasmine Belkaid, President of the Institut Pasteur: “It is with great enthusiasm that Institut Pasteur will contribute through its expertise to the common ambition of the European vaccine hub’s project. We are in a critical moment for global biomedical research and European actors must strengthen their partnerships to develop and produce life-saving vaccines for the future.”
The EVH project is a pivotal effort to enhance crisis preparedness and response for future health emergencies, with a focus on priority pathogens with pandemic potential.
An official Kick-off Meeting is being held at the Rectorate of the University of Siena, Siena, Italy, on 22–23 May 2025, gathering over 160 participants, including representatives from all institutions involved in the EVH project, as well as from the European Commission and key European and national authorities, including the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), an representatives of the Italian Ministry of Health, and of the Italian Ministry of University and Research. The event will provide an opportunity for high-level dialogue among leading institutions and set the stage for a coordinated response to future pandemic threats.
The EVH project is co-funded for the next 4 years from the European Union’s EU4Health programme, with a EU contribution of 101.995.339 EUR and estimated total project cost of 169.992.333 EUR.
Title: European Vaccines Hub for Pandemic Readiness
Acronym: EVH
Duration and start date: 48 months from 1st March 2025
Coordinator: Sclavo Vaccines Association (Italy)
Estimated total project cost: 169 992 333,00 EUR, including 60% of EC-cofunding
Project co-funder: European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
Consortium Composition – 11 Beneficiaries and 13 Affiliated and Associated Entities from 7 European countries
Beneficiaries:
- Sclavo Vaccines Association ETS (Italy)
- Fondazione Biotecnopolo di Siena (Italy)
- Institut Pasteur (France)
- University of Antwerpen -Vaccinopolis (Belgium)
- Deutsches Zenturm fur Infektionsforschung - (Germany)
- The Center for Pandemic Vaccines and Therapeutics – ZEPAI (Germany)
- Leiden University Medical Center (The Netherland)
- Université Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium)
- Folkehelseinstituttet- Norwegian Institute of Public Health (Norway)
- University of Siena (Italy)
- Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnologica (Portugal)
Affiliated entities:
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie (Italy)
- Infectious Disease Models and Innovative Therapies – CEA (France)
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (France)
- Philipps Universität Marburg (Germany)
- Helmholtz Zentrum München Deutsches Forschungszentrum für Gesundheit und Umwelt (Germany)
- Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (Germany)
- Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (Germany)
- Stiftung Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover (Germany)
- Technische Universität München (Germany)
- Klinikum der Universität zu Köln (Germany)
- Universitatsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf (Germany)
- Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (Germany)
Associated entity:
- Pasteur Network (France)