The Belgian launch meeting of the new European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) used ZenTech as an example of its responsiveness in managing the Covid-19 crisis. A vital pillar of the European Health Union, HERA will allow us to better anticipate potential health threats and, above all, react more quickly in the event of an emergency, following the example of the Walloon biotech company which developed solutions based on In Vitro Diagnostics from the start of the crisis.

ZenTech S.A., located in Liège science park, is specialised in the development of screening kits for immune system diseases in children and adults.

"There is no doubt that the key to mastering scenarios like the one we recently experienced with COVID is to have In Vitro Diagnostics tools that are fast, reliable, mobile and traceable but also meet EU quality standards in terms of product safety and data protection," explained Christian Becker, CEO of ZenTech, at this HERA launch meeting. This is what ZenTech strives to bring to the table as thoughts and solutions in times of crisis."

In March 2020, ZenTech developed a serological test that allowed the rapid detection of COVID-19 specific IgM and IgG class antibodies within ten minutes.

This is just one example of the responsiveness in Wallonia and elsewhere in Europe on which HERA will rely in the future. The European Commission has established this new body to prevent, detect and rapidly react to health emergencies.

Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, had this to say about the Europe-wide cooperation project at the beginning of the school year, "Medical countermeasures are essential to combat health threats. The Commission has been at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic, but more needs to be done to ensure we are better prepared for a future crisis. Research and innovation will be an essential part of HERA, as the new authority intends to promote and support the development and production of medical technologies.