The event on European Partnerships addressed the review of ongoing partnerships, partnerships for the second strategic plan and their future role.
The European Commission and ERA-LEARN jointly organised the second European Partnership Stakeholder Forum in Brussels on 5-6 December 2023, attracting over 250 participants. The forum delved into critical topics for the partnership community, such as synergies with Missions, experiences of European Partnerships based on the Horizon Europe interim evaluation, additionality, directionality, openness, transparency, and the development of a coherent partnership portfolio. Discussions also explored the future of partnerships under FP10, addressing their selection process, design, internationalisation, and global links within the EU’s strategic autonomy.
After a decade of initiation and exploration, partnerships are urged to transition into a maturity phase, balancing their focus on economic and societal goals. The goal is to escape bureaucratic constraints, set ambitious targets, and achieve the necessary scale for global competitiveness. Striking a balance between openness and protection is emphasised, advocating collaboration with like-minded actors respecting EU values and ensuring reciprocity.
The evaluation of European Partnerships and the assessment of their impacts are deemed crucial. The ongoing interim evaluation of Horizon Europe emphasises that additionality extends beyond financial investments, encompassing qualitative impacts like networks, innovative ecosystems, international visibility, and the development of standards. Aligning national and EU policies enhances efficiency while acknowledging the importance of partnership visibility and communication. Simplified implementation and avoiding excessive administrative burdens for partners are highlighted.
For FP10, a faster and less bureaucratic approach is urged. While emphasising long-term commitment, openness, and transparency, the focus should shift towards placing partnerships at the core of EU goals in both the industrial and societal spheres. A revived political commitment and an extended policy scope beyond research and innovation are called for.
The co-creation approach between the Commission, Member States, Associated or Third Countries, research actors, and industry stakeholders needs strengthening and balancing for partnership selection. Flexibility is deemed essential, recognising that a single partnership model may need complexity to adapt to evolving challenges. Justification for partnership creation should be robust, with flexibility accommodating differences in focus, scope, and orientation and follow the design principle of ‘form should follow function’. Consideration for fewer top-down priorities is suggested, emphasising continuous learning circulation among policy, research, and businesses, drawing from global best practices.