Important: NCP Flanders will publish any updates (news, events, ...) about a concrete partnership within the programme domain(s) a partnership belongs to.

What are European Partnerships?

European Partnerships bring the European Commission and private and/or public partners together to address some of Europe’s most pressing challenges through concerted research and innovation initiatives. They are a key implementation tool of Horizon Europe, and contribute significantly to achieving the EU’s political priorities.

By bringing private and public partners together, European Partnerships help to avoid the duplication of investments and contribute to reducing the fragmentation of the research and innovation landscape in the EU.

Types of partnerships

There are 3 types of partnerships:

• Co-programmed European Partnerships: partnerships between the European Commission and private and/or public partners, based on the joint programming of research and innovation activities. The partners also mobilise additional activities and resources in support of the partnership objectives.
• Co-funded European Partnerships: partnerships involving research and innovation funders and other public authorities. They are implemented through Horizon Europe Grant Agreements between the European Commission and a consortium of partners. These partnerships generally launch joint transnational calls and carry out additional activities.
• Institutionalised European Partnerships: partnerships used where a high degree of integration is needed. They include Joint Undertakings based on Article 187 TFEU, partnerships based on Article 185 TFEU, and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Article 185 and 187 partnerships require specific legislation and are implemented through dedicated structures.

The European partnerships

European Partnerships cover a wide range of areas, from health, digital technologies and industry to climate, energy, mobility, food, bioeconomy and the environment, as well as several cross-cutting themes. For the overall European Partnership portfolio, consult the European Commission website.

Looking for a partnership relevant to your organisation or field of expertise? Explore the NCP Flanders European Partnerships tool for more detailed and tailored information.

Co-fund partnerships in Flanders

FWO

On the FWO website you can find a list of co-fund partnerships in which FWO participates: FWO participates in the so-called 'co-funded partnerships', because this is the appropriate instrument within the ERA ecosystem for a research funder such as FWO. In addition to a range of R&I activities, open, external periodic calls for research funding are organized in such a partnership. The latter also form the essence of the FWO participation.

The FWO participation in the European, multilateral partnerships is thus further consolidated, following extensive participation in H2020 programs (including ERA-NET, EJP).

VLAIO

On the VLAIO website you can find a list of networks / co-fund partnerships in which VLAIO participates: Through VLAIO's participation in international networks, Flemish project partners can receive funding directly from Flanders for their international cooperation on research, development and innovation (R&D&I).

The agency uses its existing support programs to realize the financing of the Flemish partners within these networks / partnerships.