The third Joint Activity of the eNOVATION project, funded by the European Union, concluded successfully in Rabat, Morocco, marking a significant milestone in the collaborative efforts to strengthen cross-border biosecurity and public health preparedness.
The initiative was hosted by the Centre National pour la Recherche Scientifique et Technique (CNRST) in close cooperation with the Hôpital Militaire d’Instruction Mohammed V and its Virology Center, and spanned a full week of technical exchanges, hands-on training, and strategic coordination.
This Joint Activity focused on the assessment and management of biological risks associated with Mpox infections. The agenda included high-level academic lectures, operational response methodologies, psychological support strategies, and in-depth exploration of the BULLSEYE procedural model for crisis management. These sessions provided an opportunity for consortium partners and local stakeholders to share knowledge and align approaches to biological threat preparedness in the Moroccan context.
One of the central components of the event was a tabletop simulation exercise, designed to test and translate theoretical knowledge into practical, coordinated action. This simulation engaged both Moroccan and international experts in a scenario-based exercise aimed at evaluating national and cross-border response capabilities to a potential Mpox outbreak.
The event also provided a strategic platform to introduce the eNOVATION Network to new stakeholders from the African Atlantic Facade, including representatives from Gabon, Ivory Coast, Senegal, and Cameroon. These engagements laid the groundwork for future collaborations and demonstrated the project’s capacity to expand its impact beyond EU borders.
Fondazione SAFE played a pivotal role in the activity, advancing the objectives of the Training & Testing Facilities Network, a cornerstone of the eNOVATION project. As the lead of Work Package 5, SAFE contributed to the expansion of the Training & Testing Facilities Network to non-EU partner countries, reinforcing the network’s sustainability and interoperability. Moreover, the data and insights collected throughout the activity are being directly integrated into the development of a harmonized protocol for Competency-Based/Task-Based (CB/T) evaluation, a key deliverable under SAFE’s leadership.
Fondazione SAFE extends its sincere appreciation to the Moroccan hosts for their exceptional hospitality and organizational excellence, as well as to all project partners for their continued commitment to strengthening Europe’s and its partners’ collective bio-preparedness.
This activity reaffirmed the vital importance of international cooperation in addressing emerging biological threats and exemplified the spirit of knowledge-sharing and resilience at the core of the eNOVATION initiative.