The European Union (EU) and India have agreed on a flagship call topic for international cooperation on the next generation influenza vaccine aiming at advancing the efficacy and safety, duration of immunity, and reactivity against an increased breadth of influenza strains.

Improved influenza vaccines should ease a significant global health burden, and also help the international community to better prepare in the event of an influenza pandemic. In engaging jointly on this topic, India and the EU are also contributing to an important global public health challenge.

For this call, the European Commission (EC) through the EU funding programme for research and innovation 'Horizon 2020' has committed EUR 15 million and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India, agreed to match that amount. In total, funding of EUR 30 million will thus be available.

The call text and the opening and closing date are the same for applicants from both Europe and India. Applicants from other countries may also join EU-India consortia. Evaluation of the proposals will take place as per independent peer review process. For funding the Indian participants, DBT will check the eligibility and budgetary requirements of the applicants. It is thus of utmost importance that guidelines hereunder are closely followed in preparing and submitting the proposal.

Check out conditions and rules for application at:                                                                                                       

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/sc1-bhc-32-2019.html

Indian applicants, kindly visit Department of Biotechnology website

http://www.dbtindia.nic.in/wp-content/uploads/Guidelines-for-Submission-of-Joint-Proposal_NG.-Influenza-Vaccines.pdf

Deadline for applications: 16 April 2019

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