Under the progressive interest for a better quality of life in children, on January 9^th 2015, the city of Bari (Italy) hosted the TEDDY Network meeting. Representing a common interest of all European countries for research in health, TEDDY is an independent multidisciplinary, multinational Network composed of partners from 15 countries and coordinated by CVBF. It is aimed at facilitating the performance of good qual­ity paediatric studies and research.

Representatives of network members took this opportunity to discuss the creation of aEuropean Research Infrastructure dedicated to paediatric research within 2016’s next European Roadmap, a system which is being launched by the ESFRI, of assessing and selecting research infrastructures (possible candidates to ad hoc European funding initiatives by the European Commission).

The main topic of debate revolved around putting forward a proposal to establish a Research Infrastructurefor paediatric drug development by exploiting the activity and the expertise gained by existing paediatric Networks and excellence centres, such as TEDDY, GRiP (Global Research in Paediatrics), Enpr-EMA, FP7 projects Consortia, etc.

This initiative may come as a novelty, bearing in mind that the current ERIC (European Research Infrastructure Consortium, the legal form of RI) scenario does not include paediatric researchamong its objectives.Moreover, the proposal is intended to be formulated,initiated and economically supported by Member States and not researchers, that take upon themselves the responsibility of starting the process.