The European Union has just announced 10 new partnership programs provided by Horizon Europe, the new EU research and innovation programme (2021-2027). The EU stated that it will invest nearly 10 billion euro for the green and digital transition of European member states and industries. These investments for a green, resilient and competitive Europe will have a major impact on the green and digital transformation of European industries. Many industries and member states require EU-wide coordination and systemic solutions. A long-term vision shared between the EU and partners is therefore necessary.

Goal of the EU-partnerships

The ultimate goal of the investment is to assist industries in the process of transforming to a greener and more digital future. The European Union will provide almost 10 billion euro of funding available for partners which match the investment of the EU with at least an equivalent amount. The combined contribution of both parties is expected to generate additional investments in support of the transition and have positive, long-term effects for both employment and the society as well as for the environment.

Concrete Initiatives

The general idea of the initiatives is to make the European Union more resilient to diseases, make way for carbon-neutral aviation, promote the use of reusable raw materials, make rail transport more competitive and ensure European leadership in the digital revolution of technologies and infrastructures. They aim to improve and accelerate the development and uptake of new innovative solutions and ideas across different sectors by mobilizing public and private resources.

The ten partnerships from which some already existed and will be continued or enlarged are the following:

1. Global Health EDCTP3: This partnership will deliver new solutions for reducing the burden of infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa, and strengthen research capacities to prepare and respond to re-emerging infectious diseases in sub-Saharan Africa and across the world.
2. Innovative Health Initiative: This initiative will help create an EU-wide health research and innovation ecosystem that facilitates the translation of scientific knowledge into tangible innovations. It will cover prevention, diagnostics, treatment and disease management.
3. Key Digital Technologies: They encompass electronic components, their design, manufacture and integration in systems and the software that defines how they work. The overarching objective of this partnership is to support the digital transformation of all economic and societal sectors and the European Green Deal, as well as support research and innovation towards the next generation of microprocessors.
4. Circular Bio-based Europe: This partnership will contribute significantly to the 2030 climate targets, paving the way for climate neutrality by 2050, and will increase the sustainability and circularity of production and consumption systems, in line with the European Green Deal.
5. Clean Hydrogen: This partnership will accelerate the development and deployment of a European value chain for clean hydrogen technologies, contributing to sustainable, decarbonised and fully integrated energy systems.
6. Clean Aviation: This partnership puts aviation en route to climate neutrality, by accelerating the development and deployment of disruptive research and innovation solutions. It aims to develop the next generation of ultra-efficient low-carbon aircraft, with novel power sources, engines, and systems, improving competitiveness and employment in the aviation sector that will be especially important for the recovery.
7. Europe's Rail: This partnership will speed up the development and deployment of innovative technologies, especially digital and automation ones, to achieve the radical transformation of the rail system and deliver on the European Green Deal objectives.
8. Single European Sky ATM Research 3: The initiative aims to accelerate the technological transformation of air traffic management in Europe, aligning it to the digital age, to make the European airspace the most efficient and environmentally friendly sky to fly in the world and to support the competitiveness and recovery of Europe's aviation sector following the coronavirus crisis.
9. Smart Networks and Services: This partnership will support technological sovereignty for smart networks and services in line with the new industrial strategy for Europe, the new EU Cybersecurity Strategy and the 5G Toolbox. It aims to help resolve societal challenges and to enable the digital and green transition, as well as support technologies that will contribute to the economic recovery.
10. Metrology: This partnership aims to accelerate Europe's global lead in metrology research, establishing self-sustaining European metrology networks aimed at supporting and stimulating new innovative products, responding to societal challenges and enabling effective design and implementation of regulation and standards underpinning public policies.

Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President for a Europe fit for the Digital Age, said the following about Europe’s Next-Generation European Partnerships: 

“We are at our best in Europe when we work together. This is particularly important when it comes to mastering the challenges of the digital transformation. It affects us all, and does not stop at national borders. Just like climate change. The partnerships proposed today will mobilise resources, so that we can jointly make the most of digital technologies, not least in the interest of our green transition.”

B2EU Consulting can help private or public actors to gain access to means of financial or legislative support. Our boutique consulting firm is specialized in European funds and can assist industries on positioning itself favorably for financial support and a smooth transaction to a greener future.

^{Image © European Commission, 2021}