Description
The ICF’s mandate is to support structured dialogue with industry on key issues related to medical countermeasures across their lifecycle. This includes contributing to the identification of supply-chain risks, dependencies and bottlenecks that may affect the development, manufacturing, availability and accessibility of medical countermeasures.
Through this dialogue, the ICF provides industrial and technical input to inform the Commission’s preparedness initiatives, including work on supply-chain resilience, manufacturing readiness and strategic planning under the EU Medical Countermeasures Strategy.
Structure
Alongside the Civil Society Forum, the ICF contributes industrial perspectives to the work of the HERA Advisory Forum, helping ensure that EU preparedness initiatives are informed by industrial capacities, dependencies and constraints.
Under the 2026 Work Programme, the ICF operates through two thematic working groups focusing respectively on Resilient Supply Chains and Manufacturing Readiness, and on Innovation, Access and Strategic Preparedness.
Membership
The ICF is co-chaired by HERA and DG GROW. It comprises representatives from Member State authorities and up to 70 industrial stakeholders whose activities and expertise cover medical countermeasures across the value chain, including research, development, manufacturing (including raw materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients and other essential inputs), supply, distribution and procurement.
The ICF currently consists of 63 industry organisations and companies active in sectors critical to health emergency preparedness and response. On incoming applications and after HERA assessment, additional industry members may still be appointed until the maximum number of ICF industrial members is reached. Interested applicants are invited to contact the ICF Secretariat for further information.
Working methods
Under its current three-year mandate (2026–2028), the ICF works on the basis of a multiannual work programme. Its activities are organised through thematic working groups, allowing members to engage in focused discussions on key aspects of EU health emergency preparedness.
In 2026, the work of the ICF is structured around two thematic working groups:
- Resilient Supply Chains and Manufacturing Readiness, addressing supply-chain vulnerabilities, manufacturing capacity, preparedness planning and initiatives to improve surge capacity and scale-up readiness;
- Innovation, Access and Strategic Preparedness, focusing on medical countermeasure innovation, financing and incentives, joint procurement and sustainable stockpiling approaches to support equitable access and availability.
Participation in the ICF is membership-based, with relevant stakeholders occasionally invited by the secretariat, on an ad hoc basis, to contribute to discussions or provide written input.
Meetings
The ICF meets in plenary format on a regular basis, typically two to four times per year, either in person at the Commission’s premises or virtually, to exchange views, review progress and provide overall guidance on the Forum’s work, with a preference for in-person meetings where possible. Members are expected to engage actively in the Forum’s meetings and activities.
Meeting agendas are prepared by the ICF Secretariat in consultation with the co-chairs and members, taking into account suggestions from members and relevant Commission services. Agenda items reflect priorities related to medical countermeasures. All discussions within the ICF are conducted in full compliance with EU competition rules.
In addition to plenary meetings, thematic working groups meet according to schedules agreed within each group, taking into account the nature and pace of the work.
The working language of the ICF is English.
Secretariat
The Secretariat of the ICF is provided by HERA Unit 03 - Medical Countermeasures.
If you have inquiries related to the work of the ICF, please contact HERA ICF secretariat team: HERA-ICF-SECRETARIAT@ec.europa.eu