European Partnerships are playing a vital role in bringing together expertise and resources to help develop the energy system of tomorrow. In its contribution to the latest public consultation, EERA is calling for FP10 to deliver a Partnership portfolio that recognises the strategic role of energy R&I, builds on existing European cooperation frameworks and reflects the diversity and needs of the energy research community.

The EERA Joint Programme Smart Grids brought together over 85 participants from research, policy and industry to discuss the role of grid technologies in Europe's electrification. Building on its FP10 position paper, developed with 26 other signatory organisations, the webinar highlighted the need to strengthen research and innovation in power system components and support the transition from research to large-scale deployment.

Twenty-seven organisations have joined the EERA in calling for electric power system Twenty-seven organisations from across Europe's electricity research and innovation ecosystem have joined the EERA Joint Programme Smart Grids position paper, calling for electric power system components to become a strategic investment priority under Framework Programme 10 (FP10).

EERA has submitted its feedback to the European Commission's consultation on the future Single Basic Act for Joint Undertakings, presenting six recommendations to support a coherent European Partnerships landscape and maximise the impact of research and innovation under Framework Programme 10 (FP10).

The EERA Joint Programme Smart Grids and its partners have published the position paper "Securing Europe's Electrified Future Through RD&I in Electric Power System Components", calling for stronger support for research and innovation in grid technologies as Europe shapes FP10 and future energy policies.

The proposed European Competitiveness Fund is one of the initiatives that could influence the future of EU research and innovation funding under FP10. In a recent ScienceBusiness article, EERA Secretary General Adel El Gammal shares EERA's views on low-carbon energy research, Europe's reliance on imported energy and the need for FP10 to support competitiveness alongside environmental and societal objectives.

Two draft reports in the European Parliament will define how the EU funds research and innovation beyond 2027, through FP10 and the European Competitiveness Fund. EERA has published six recommendations calling for stronger protection of collaborative R&I, better links between research and deployment, and continued EU leadership in clean energy. The feedback also highlights the importance of aligning both frameworks with the SET Plan to ensure coherent governance of Europe’s research and innovation priorities.

The SET Plan provides a strategic framework to guide priorities, align FP10 and ECF actions, and ensure investments complement broader R&I strategies. While not a funding instrument, its systematic application strengthens transparency, builds trust, and amplifies Europe’s clean energy and industrial ambitions

FP10 should implement flagship calls that integrate the full spectrum of TRLs, from discovery to demonstration, using cascade funding and industrially relevant frameworks. Scientific excellence must remain the core criterion, ensuring breakthrough research complements industrial innovation.

Europe’s clean energy transition is not only a technological challenge – it is a societal one. EERA calls for FP10 to further embed SSH alongside technological and industrial research to address societal, behavioural, economic, and governance dimensions.

Under Horizon Europe, 16% of the budget went to climate, energy and mobility research. Under FP10, that share would drop to around 14.5%. EERA calls for stronger prioritisation of clean energy research within FP10, aligned with the ECF, and for a broader approach to sustainable competitiveness that supports Europe’s energy security and decarbonisation goals.

Europe’s research and innovation strength relies on cross-border, collaborative work, yet current FP10 discussions risk weakening this by reducing the share of Pillar II, potentially leading to fragmentation and slower innovation uptake. EERA calls for collaborative research to remain central, representing at least 60% of the FP10 budget to sustain Europe’s competitiveness, cohesion, and innovation pipeline.

Hydropower plays a key role as the backbone of system flexibility and storage. Yet, despite its importance for grid stability and competitiveness, it remains under-prioritised. JP Hydropower and ETIP Hydrowpower call for stronger EU support and targeted R&I to modernise assets, deploy new capacity where appropriate, and accelerate digital innovation in the FP10.