It has become apparent that the ease of travelling, global warming, and changes in the environment accelerate the spread of infectious diseases of zoonotic origin. International collaboration is essential to impact on the control of disease epidemics, and as the COVID pandemic has shown rapid diagnostics are one of the main pillars. PREPARE-TID will target infectious agents of three types: an ongoing neglected epidemic, an ongoing emerging epidemic, and an ongoing elimination drive. The aim is to develop the necessary in vitro diagnostic tools for preparedness needed in case of the emergence of infectious agent X. PREAPRE-TID is a multidisciplinary research consortium drawn from 16 European and 3 international research organisations and SMEs. Biomedical researchers will work alongside epidemiologists, clinicians, veterinarians, and software engineers to implement a pipeline from a mobile suitcase sequencing laboratory with a simple bioinformatics to a fieldable rapid nucleic acid extraction procedure, a mobile smartphone linked molecular point-of-care and a multiplex PCR one-health surveillance platform, and a one health digital platform. These will provide innovative diagnostic solutions for cross-border health threats at international level. PREPARE-TID will increase the accessibility to novel diagnostics for detection of pathogens with pandemic potential. The consortium will deliver point-of-care and mobile diagnostics, which can be easily deployed and mass produced in case of an epidemic or pandemic.

The i3 (Imagine, Innovate, Impact) project aims to promote public engagement with STEM by creating stronger links between researchers and the general public. It unites STEM practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and the public to increase the general public awareness of research and innovation endeavors, support public recognition of researchers, to have stronger support and sense of ownership of research enterprises, to create relevance of researchers’ work on citizen’s daily life and the material world, to support capacity building among young researchers via engagement training, and to encourage young people to become “agents of change” by pursuing their research careers in STEM fields. Bringing top-quality universities, R&D centers, and institutions in STEM engagement and energizing their willingness to “embrace change” will significantly contribute to a wider recognition of research and innovation. The i3 project includes 10 main strands: (i) STEM Slam, (ii) Café Scientific - Meet the Scientist, (iii) STEM Expo, (iv) Guided Visits to Research and Development Labs, (v) Hands- and Minds-on STEM workshops, (vi) Science Shows, (vii) European Union Corner, (viii) Games, (ix) Science Movies, and (x) Concert. Topics and disciplines are structured among STEM with an emphasis on researchers’ contribution and impact on humanities, showcase technological advancement, and promote cutting-edge technological products. That is why our motto is i3: imagine, innovate, impact. In a way, the project might light a spark in the participants’ minds and actions. The i3 project will be held in five cities from east to west, north to central Anatolia.