The Managing Director of HIPRA’s Human Health Division, Carles Fàbrega, participated this Tuesday in the HERA Info Day, organized by the European Commission in Madrid to present the work of HERA, the authority responsible for ensuring rapid response and preparedness for potential health emergencies.

Fàbrega highlighted the link established between HIPRA and HERA five years ago in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and stressed the importance of learning from that crisis: he considers it essential to focus on Europe’s preparedness and anticipation for future emergencies. “We need to be ready to anticipate a response; we need a consolidated European strategy,” he stated.

During the presentation in Madrid alongside Victoria Perez Le Maignan from HERA’s Directorate-General, Fàbrega said it is “time for Europe to take a step forward and support the biotechnology and healthcare sectors.” “If we want a sovereign, independent and competitive Europe, we need to believe in it,” he added.

He emphasized that it is up to European and national institutions to “translate” this commitment into resources and funding to develop Europe’s own tools and avoid dependence on external resources in case a health emergency like COVID-19 occurs again.

In this regard, the head of the Human Health Division highlighted projects that already bring together institutions and industry, such as EU FAB, and the Horizon Europe and EU4Health programs. Finally, Fàbrega concluded that in recent years HIPRA and HERA have “built a relationship of mutual trust,” describing the Amer-based biotech company, with over 50 years of experience and currently developing innovative vaccines, as a “100% European company with a 100% European vocation.” “We are a trusted partner for these kinds of projects,” he affirmed.

The sessions in Madrid served to present HERA’s lines of word to experts and institutions, and as an opportunity for collaboration between leading players in the sector such as HIPRA.