Support for policy makers – Programme level collaboration between national R&I programmes

Since the introduction of the European Research Area (ERA) and starting with FP6, Programme level collaboration among Member States and their research and innovation programmes has become a cornerstone of the ERA, with annual investment from Member States of more than € 800 million per year. More than 250 networks among research funders have been created over time, serving different research needs but always coordinating public research investments across borders and allowing researchers to apply for calls for transnational research projects funded by the participating states.

The new policy approach to European Partnerships limits co-funding to Member State collaboration to Union and Horizon Europe priorities. Therefore, the ERA part of the Horizon Europe provides the possibility for Member States, Associated Countries and civil society organisations such as foundations, to maintain existing and establish new collaborations on priorities of their choice.

The successful proposal should align national and regional research funding programmes (managed by national or regional programme owners / managers) on agreed common priorities and implement joint calls for transnational R&I projects as well as other joint calls. Proposers have to demonstrate clear commitments from participating programmes to pool resources and ensure complementarity between activities and policies with those of the Framework Programme and relevant European Partnership Initiatives.

Applicants should pool the necessary resources from the participating national (or regional) research programmes as well as, where appropriate, leverage resources from pertinent foundations, charities and transnational initiatives, with a view to implementing calls for proposals resulting in grants to third parties without EU co-funding in this area.

The proposal should also demonstrate potential impact at national, regional and transnational level research and innovation. The proposal should demonstrate that activities exclude overlaps with on-going actions co-funded by the EU under Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe.

Participation of legal entities from third countries, and/or regions including those not automatically eligible for funding is encouraged.

The actions should envisage a duration which is appropriate to the ambition and complexity of the proposed topic.