Partnerships

The "European Partnerships" are an integral part of HE and bring together players from the economic world and the academic world, along with the European Commission, in order to produce strategic research and innovation agendas (SRIA) in specific areas of industrial and societal relevance. Such SRIAs become an essential tool for the European Commission in the preparation of Horizon Europe's work programmes for the years to come, and thus of future calls for projects. What is more, JU (Joint Undertaking) type partnerships (see below) are completely independent with regards to the execution of their budget, including by reserving a part of it only for the members of the partnership.

There are three types of European Partnerships:

  • Institutionalised European Partnerships: Legislatively established partnerships between the EU and member states and/or industry. These partnerships launch their own calls for proposals which are – just like “regular” Horizon Europe calls – published on the Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal. These are called Joint Undertakings.

  • Co-programmed European Partnerships: The partners establish a Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), that provide input for drafting the topics to be funded by the respective pre-selected area of Horizon Europe.

  • Co-funded European Partnerships: Partners are national funding bodies (e.g. grant agencies, ministries) that decide to jointly support international research projects in a certain area (e.g. nanomaterials or biodiversity).