VetBioNet

VetBioNet (Veterinary Biocontained facility Network) was an EU-funded network of high-containment (BSL3) research facilities, academic institutes, international organisations and industry partners, dedicated to advance research on epizootic and zoonotic diseases and to promote technological developments.

The principal aim of the VetBioNet infrastructure project was to establish and maintain a comprehensive network of pre-eminent high-containment (BSL3) research facilities, academic institutes, international organisations and industry partners that is dedicated to advance research on epizootic and zoonotic diseases and to promote technological developments.

The project includeD 3 types of integrating activities:

1. Transnational Access Activities (TNA), consisting mainly in providing access to the BSL3 facilities and technical resources of the consortium. This free-of-charge access is provided to researchers or enterprises proposing a sound project related to epizootic and zoonotic diseases. As part of its Transnational Access Activities, VetBioNet also offers access to sample collections available at partner institutes and produces on-demand samples. The details of TNA activities appear in the “TNA Call” section of the website;
2. Networking Activities (NA) to foster the cooperation between project partners and to forge cooperative relationships with other European or international research initiatives, industrial stakeholders, international organisations and policy makers;
3. Joint Research Activities (JRA) to improve the scientific and technological standards of services provided by the consortium.

VetBioNet assembled 28 partners from 12 different countries and received a funding of 10 million euro from the European Commission (through the Horizon 2020 programme; INFRAIA-01-2016-2017 call) for a project period of 5 years (2017-22).

The project has ended but the network continues to evolve and expand. The consortium remained active after the end of EU funding through its participation in ISIDORe and ISIDORe II. It is transitioning into a European Research Group (ERG) to achieve sustainability.