Call for Evidence on Horizon Europe European Partnerships

EARPA’s input to the call for evidence on Horizon Europe European Partnerships

EARPA has submitted its input to the call for evidence on Horizon Europe European Partnerships implemented as Joint Undertakings, welcoming the European Commission’s intention to review their governance, architecture, accessibility and strategic orientation.

Joint Undertakings are important instruments for advancing collaborative research, industrial competitiveness and societal goals. As Europe responds to changing geopolitical conditions and new strategic priorities, EARPA believes they must become more efficient, agile and impactful while preserving the distinctive value of collaborative pre-competitive research.

In particular, reform must protect research at Technology Readiness Levels 4–6. This “mid-TRL gap” connects fundamental research with industrial application and provides the foundation for successful deployment at higher technology readiness levels. Shifting funding too heavily towards deployment without securing this bridge could weaken Europe’s future innovation pipeline.

EARPA also calls for governance models that give industry, the research community and public authorities genuine ownership of programme priorities. An autonomous and accountable single governing body should be empowered to determine priorities, distribute budgets and select implementation instruments. At the same time, direct cash contributions should not replace effective in-kind contributions in ways that could reduce collaboration or exclude organisations facing economic and budgetary pressures.

EARPA’s contribution focuses on key areas where reform is needed to maximise the impact of future Joint Undertakings:

• Safeguarding the dual mission of Horizon Europe Pillar 2 by supporting industrial competitiveness and societal challenges
• Preserving collaborative pre-competitive research and securing the mid-TRL pipeline at TRL 4–6
• Establishing coherent sub-programmes around a limited set of strategic “flagship initiatives”
• Simplifying governance through empowered single governing bodies representing the full value chain
• Accelerating the establishment and operation of Joint Undertakings while substantially reducing administrative burdens
• Broadening participation by SMEs, start-ups and research organisations through flexible access and appropriate funding mechanisms
• Introducing portfolio management to improve coordination across Joint Undertakings and reduce siloed working
• Building stronger links with national programmes and EU deployment instruments, including the European Competitiveness Fund, IPCEI and CEF
• Strengthening proposal evaluation through focused competition, safeguards against insufficiently rigorous or AI-assisted assessments, and in-person project hearings
• Increasing the FP10 budget to at least €175 billion for 2028–2034

The Commission initiative, Horizon Europe – European Partnerships to be implemented as joint undertakings, is currently at the public consultation stage. The consultation is open until 17 October 2026.

Read EARPA’s full response in the attachment: European Automotive Research Partners Association (EARPA) Response to the Call for Evidence – Horizon Europe: European Partnerships to be implemented as Joint Undertakings, reference Ares(2026)6115964.