The COVID-19 pandemic has confirmed and further highlighted the importance of planning and investing in research and innovation well before a health crisis occurs. For this purpose, the main goal of BE READY is to build a consolidated European Research and Innovation Area that provides the foundation of the candidate European partnership for pandemic preparedness so to improve the EU's preparedness to predict and respond to emerging health threats by better coordinating funding for research and innovation at EU, national (and regional) level towards common objectives and an agreed Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda. The Partnership is expected to build on existing pandemic preparedness networks, and work in synergy with the Health Emergency Response Authority (HERA), in close collaboration with ECDC, EMA and other relevant international and European actors. BE READY is composed by 24 organisations from 15 countries with complementary expertise and policy area ranging from Public Health Organisations, Ministries (of Science, University, Health, Innovation or Environment) and Research Performing Organisations that ensures a cross-cutting, interdisciplinary Global Health and One Health approach.