Series of partnerships under Horizon 2020 with industry and with Member States are being established to boost Europe competitiveness.

Why is the EU funding research and innovation partnerships with the private sector and Member States under Horizon 2020?

Research and innovation are critical to boost Europe’s global competitiveness to improve quality of life and to create sustainable economic growth. In certain well defined areas, formal partnerships with the private sector and/or with Member States is the most effective way of meeting the objectives of the new EU research and innovation programme Horizon 2020 in terms of major societal challenges and industrial leadership. That is why a series of partnerships under Horizon 2020 with industry and with Member States are being established.

What are these partnerships?

The public-private partnerships take the form of Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs). They represent the joining of forces between the EU and industry and provide vital funding for large-scale, longer-term and high risk/reward research. They set out commitments, including financial commitments, over a seven year period from both the EU and from the industry partners. They each have clear objectives which need to be achieved by the Partnerships. JTIs bring together companies, universities, research laboratories, innovative SMEs and other groups and organisations around major research and innovation challenges. They establish their own strategic research and innovation agendas and fund projects selected through open and competitive calls for project proposals. The JTIs are established under Article 187 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and managed by dedicated entities called Joint Undertakings.

Six of these JTIs will be initially established under Horizon 2020 as well as a seventh public-private partnership (SESAR) http://www.sesarju.eu/ in a different form.

What will these partnerships focus on?

Most of the investment will come through six JTIs. In line with the priorities of Horizon 2020, they will address some of the most pressing economic, societal and environmental challenges that Europe and the world are facing. More information about these initiatives can be found in dedicated fact sheets:

· Innovative Medicines 2 (IMI2): to develop next generation vaccines, medicines and treatments, such as new antibiotics http://www.imi.europa.eu/

· Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 (FCH2): to expand the use of clean and efficient technologies in transport, industry and energy http://www.fch-ju.eu/

· Clean Sky 2 (CS2): to develop cleaner, quieter aircraft with significantly less CO2 emissions http://www.cleansky.eu/

· Bio-based Industries (BBI): to use renewable natural resources and innovative technologies for greener everyday products http://www.biconsortium.eu/

· Electronics (ECSEL): to boost Europe’s electronics manufacturing capabilities

· Shift2Rail: to get more passengers and freight onto Europe’s railways http://www.shift2rail.org/

Besides these JTIs, the Parliament also adopted the Commission’s proposal to extend the SESAR (Single European Sky ATM Research) project. This is the technical pillar of the Single European Sky initiative, which aims to modernise Air Traffic Management in Europe.

The four joint programmes with Member States and their aims are:

· European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership 2 (EDCTP2): to reduce the social and economic burden of poverty related diseases;

· The European Metrology Programme for Research and Innovation (EMPIR): to provide new measurement technologies;

· Eurostars 2: to stimulate growth and job creation by supporting innovative SMEs http://www.eurostars-eureka.eu/;

· Active and Assisted Living Research and Development Programme: to improve the quality of life for the elderly and to increase the sustainability of care systems http://www.aal-europe.eu/.

Who can participate in these Partnerships?

The Joint Technology Initiatives will all run competitive calls which are open to the participation of companies, SMEs, universities, research organisations and others, and where the best projects will be selected for funding through peer review. There are also opportunities for interested organisations to become new members of the Partnerships during the implementation.

When will the new Partnerships start?

The proposals will now need to be formally adopted by the Council of the EU. Five of the seven Joint Undertakings are planning to launch their first calls in July 2014.

Innovation Investment Package – total investments (2014-20) (in € million)

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