- November 3, 2020
- Posted by: EARSC
- Category: Blogs
Background
In autumn 2019, the Commission asked potential partners to further elaborate proposals for the
candidate European Partnerships identified during the strategic planning of Horizon Europe.
There are three different types of European Partnerships: co-programmed European Partnerships (between the commission and private and/or public actors), co-funded European Partnerships using a
programme co-fund action (between EU countries, research funders and other public authorities) and
institutionalised European Partnerships (in which the EU participates in research and innovation
funding programmes undertaken by EU countries).
Why is it relevant for the EO services industry?
The aim of the European Partnerships with EU and associated countries, the private sector, foundations and other stakeholders is to deliver on global challenges and modernise industry. Several categories of these Partnerships can be of great interest for the EO services sector industry. The table below shows the partnership candidates for the clusters “Digital, Industry and space”, “Climate, energy and Mobility”, “Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment” and the two other pillars (“Innovative SMEs” and “European Science Cloud”).
[1] Table source: https://www.era-learn.eu/partnerships-in-a-nutshell/european-partnerships/candidates; Also read this report for more detailed information about the partnerships candidate and the synergies: https://ec.europa.eu/info/files/coherence-and-synergies-candidate-european-partnerships-under-horizon-europe_en
[2] CF: Co-funded European Partnerships; CP: Co-programmed European Partnerships; CF/CP: Either implemented as CF or CP; CF (CP): Most likely implemented as CF, maybe as CP; A185/A187: Institutionalised European Partnerships
Eleven candidates partnerships exist in the area of digital, industry and space; we selected three candidates (as examples) among the different areas that can provide opportunities for the EO services industry (non-exhaustive list).
Artificial intelligence, Data and Robotics (2):
To deliver the greatest benefit to Europe from AI, data and robotics, this partnership will drive innovation, acceptance and uptake of these technologies. The partnership will boost new markets, applications and attract investment, to create technical, economic and societal value for business, citizens and the environment.
Carbon-neutral and circular industry:
Aligned with the European Green Deal targets, the partnership supports EU leadership in transforming the steel industry into a carbon-neutral one, serving as a catalyser for other strategic sectors. By 2027 it will implement at least 2 demonstration projects leading to a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions and achieve technology readiness level 8 by 2030 in at least 12 areas funded by the partnership3. The final ambition is to reduce CO2 emissions by 80-95% by 2050, ultimately achieving carbon neutrality.
Environmental observations for a sustainable EU agriculture:
This partnership will provide an overarching platform and process to underpin the needed transition to sustainable food systems, provide solutions to the Farm to Fork strategy4 by connecting national, regional and European research and innovation programmes and food systems actors, to deliver co-benefits for nutrition, climate, circularity and communities (5).
Following steps:
The first wave of European Partnerships in Horizon Europe will start with the work programmes 2021/ 2022. The indicative timeline below shows the process of their implementation. It will be adopted according to the decisions on the MFF (multiannual financial framework), Horizon Europe negotiations and in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic.
- Autumn 2020: Adoption of COM proposals for Article 185/187 initiatives6 (timing depends on sufficient progress on MFF, the formal commitments received by Member States)
- Q1/2021: publication of Horizon Europe Work Programme 2021/2022 including co-programmed and co-funded European Partnerships
- Q2/2021: adoption of Article 185 and 187 basic acts by European Parliament and Council
We will follow closely the different steps of the implementation of these European Partnerships in order to identify opportunities for the EO services sector and come back to you with more detailed information when relevant!
2 https://ai-data-robotics-partnership.eu/
3 https://ec.europa.eu/info/horizon-europe/european-partnerships-horizon-europe/candidates-digital-industry-and-space_en
4 https://ec.europa.eu/food/farm2fork_en
5https://ec.europa.eu/info/horizon-europe/european-partnerships-horizon-europe/candidates-food-security_en
6 https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/h2020-section/article-185
