Insight
The European Commission, with support from ERA-LEARN*, hosted the second edition of the Partnership Stakeholder Forum in Brussels on 5-6th December. The event brought together the entire European Partnership stakeholder community to discuss policy and practical aspects related to European Partnerships. It also provided a space for networking and engagement, as well as knowledge sharing between stakeholders, which primarily consisted of members of these partnerships.
What are European Partnerships?
European Partnerships are initiatives in which the EU Commission and private and/or public partners commit themselves to jointly support the development and implementation of a research and innovation programme. They make a significant contribution to achieving the EU’s political priorities, such as the Green Deal, Europe’s digital strategy or pandemic preparedness.
Partnerships provide mechanisms, such as calls, to link R&I to policy needs, develop close synergies with national and regional programmes, bring together a broad range of innovation actors to work toward a common goal, and turn research results into socio-economic impacts.
There are three types of partnership: Co-funded, Co-programmes, Institutionalised.
Partnerships include representation from industry, universities, research organisations, bodies with a public service remit at local, regional, national or international level or civil society organisations including foundations and NGOs.
More details about partnerships can be found here.
Key objectives of the Stakeholder Forum:
- Review the state of play of implementation of the European Partnerships launched under the first Strategic Plan, as well as a first look on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe.
- Present and discuss the enlargement of the partnerships portfolio under the second Strategic Plan.
- Have a first exchange of views with the community at large on European Partnerships in the next [tenth] Framework Programme.
The agenda featured a number of sessions addressing key issues affecting the design and delivery of European Partnerships and discussing opportunities to enhance and improve them.
Hundreds of delegates attended the two-day event where vigorous and spirited discussion took place amidst panel sessions, group work, and, of course, networking!
The keynote speech on day one was delivered by Markus Schulte, Head of Cabinet, on behalf of Iliana Ivanova, the European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.