The European Research Infrastructure on Highly Pathogenic Agents (ERINHA) is dedicated to addressing the challenges posed by the emergence or re-emergence of infectious disease. Highly pathogenic microorganisms, characterized by a high mortality rate, but for which there are limited prophylactic or therapeutic medical countermeasures (MCM) represent one of the greatest threats to human health and well-being in the 21st century. Infectious microorganisms are classified by risk group, according to their pathogenicity, mode of transmission, host range, and the pharmacopeia of existing MCMs. The most dangerous pathogens are classified as risk group (RG) 3 and 4. They are stored and studied in high-containment laboratories (HCLs) of biological safety level 3 and 4 (BSL3 and BSL4). Officially set up in July 2017 as an international non profit association under Belgian law (AISBL status – Association Internationale Sans But Lucratif), ERINHA became an ESFRI landmark in 2018, and operates as a pan-European research infrastructure (RI) dedicated to the study of high-consequence (RG3 and RG4) pathogens. The only research infrastructure (RI) of its kind, ERINHA strives to bring the European Research Area (ERA) to the forefront of research excellence, competitiveness, innovation, and pandemic preparedness. Its primary mission is to advance research on the pathogens that represent the greatest threat to public health, society, and the economy, and to contribute to the development of countermeasures against them. To fulfil its mission ERINHA strengthens European capacities for research on highly pathogenic agents, and coordinates HCL service provision. It supports cutting-edge research into highly pathogenic diseases by offering a coordinated access to its member capacities, resources and expertise to the entire scientific community, on the basis of scientific excellence, and the relevance of research projects. Currently, ERINHA brings together eleven Members from ten European countries (AT, BE, ES, FR, HU, IT, NL, PT, SE, UK), which represent the majority of European BSL4 capacity and select BSL3/BSL3+ facilities. The COVID-19 pandemic confirmed the relevance of ERINHA for pandemic preparedness and response research. In Europe, the RI has been playing a critical role in optimizing the use of its Members’ laboratories by providing a coordinated, single point of access to support scientists, both from academia and the private sector, to advance research on SARS-CoV-2 and other pandemic-prone pathogens. Its coordinating and structuring activities have enabled multidisciplinary RI access opportunities (e.g. via the ISIDORe project), with a catalogue of common services and a service delivery mechanism.