INTRO
Partnerships in the Horizon Europe (HE) programme play a key role in achieving the EU’s political priorities, resulting in an essential and effective tool to deal with the most pressing challenges in strategic areas. In particular, the COVID-19 and Ukrainian conflict exposed some weaknesses of the EU.
Understanding the partnership landscape can improve company and stakeholders positioning and increase engagement in publicly funded R&I projects that contribute to the development of future innovative products and services in the sector. Positioning itself among other EU players and developing future innovations in specific sectors is critical for companies seeking to play a strategic role in the development of future innovative solutions and products.
HISTORY
Partnerships have been set up in the beginning of 2000 with the ERA (EU Research Area) policy. The initial aim was to help in the coordination of priorities among Member States (MS) in the favour of strengthening the cooperation of public-private sectors. With the introduction of the HE, there was a need to improve the management and the rationalisation of the too many partnerships (almost 120, organized in many different ways) created within the previous programmes. The EC decided then to made things simpler.
Now, in HE, there are 49 partnerships. They are organized in three distinct groups:
Co-Programmed (former cPPP): based on Memoranda of Understanding (MOUS), they are implemented independently by the partners and HE foreseeing a close cooperation between the EC, the private sector and MS. They aim to define R&I priorities and influence HE calls.
Co-Funded (former EJP and ERA-NET): this is based on a joint programme both agreed and implemented by partners with their mutual commitment to financial and in-kind contributions foreseeing a co-fund by MS and the EC. They aim to elaborate Joint Research Agendas.
Institutionalized (Art. 185 and 187 initiatives and JU): based on the long-term dimension and need for high integration foreseeing a close collaboration between the EC, the private sector and MS. They are involved in the preparation of calls, evaluation of proposals and project management. EIT-KIC (Knowledge and Innovation Community) are a sub-type of this category.
STRUCTURE
The 49 partnerships foreseen under the HE programme are shown in the picture below, divided per pillar, cluster and type. They canalize approximately one quarter of the whole HE budget.
In 2022, 37 partnerships were officially launched. This number is expected to reach 49 by the time all currently planned partnerships have officially been launched under the first Strategic Plan under HE ‘2021-2024). Many partnerships funded under H2020 (e.g. ERA-NETs, JPIs) continue their activities beyond the end of H2020. Others will still be ending their activities.
The budget committed in the first Strategic Plan for the EU partnerships is EUR 55 billion. Approximately 24 billion comes from HE (was 21 in H2020), in particular from pillar II (38% of HE budget). Co-programmed partnership will allocate the 33% of HE budget, co-founded the 10% and institutionalized the 57%. Industry has committed EUR 22.4 billion to the launched EU partnerships.
AMBITION, SCOPE & IMPACTS
Partnerships will drive the Green and Digital transitions by:
Addressing the HE societal and economic challenges
Supporting EU priorities (e.g. Green Deal, Digital)
Deploying R&I activities till the market introduction and societal uptake
Contributing to a stronger and more effective ERA investment and programme’s synergies
The aim of EU partnerships is to achieve the UN SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals). In particular, the majority of proposed partnerships propose to accelerate and promote long-term positive impacts on employment, environment and society, focusing on:
Transition towards climate-neutral objectives
Circular economy
Decarbonisation of energy and mobility sectors
Resources sustainability
Healthcare and industry systems resilience
EU autonomy
EU technological and competitive leadership
HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED?
You can contribute and participle in EU partnerships by:
Joining as a partner
Applying to open calls
Participating in advisory activities
Finally, partnerships are an ideal place to build a strong EU network and find potential partners to jointly develop and implement roadmpas and do business with HE proposals.
SOURCES
Opmerkingen