Europe's energy system is facing an increasingly complex combination of challenges, including geopolitical instability, climate change, growing technological dependencies and emerging physical, hybrid and cyber threats. At the same time, the clean energy transition is reshaping energy infrastructures and increasing interdependencies between technologies, energy carriers, digital systems and supply chains. Strengthening energy security, resilience and preparedness has therefore become essential to ensuring a sustainable, competitive and secure European energy future. 

The EERA transversal Joint Programme on Energy Security and Resilience (tJP-ESR) aims to strengthen the scientific and technological foundations for energy systems capable of anticipating, withstanding, adapting to and recovering from disruptions, while maintaining the continuity of essential services. Building on EERA's December 2025 Position Paper on resilience and preparedness and its subsequent High-Level Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (HL-SRIA), the programme addresses energy security from a systemic and multidisciplinary perspective, extending beyond traditional security of supply concerns. 

The tJP-ESR was established as a transversal Joint Programme in recognition of the fact that energy security and resilience challenges extend across individual technologies, infrastructures and scientific disciplines. By bringing together expertise from across EERA's Joint Programmes and member organisations, it seeks to identify common research priorities, address cross-sectoral vulnerabilities and interdependencies, and foster coordinated research and innovation activities. 

The programme's research agenda focuses particularly on geopolitical dependencies and vulnerabilities, cascading effects across interconnected energy systems, and physical, hybrid and cyber risks. It also provides a framework for developing transversal research activities in cooperation with existing EERA Joint Programmes, building on their technological expertise while addressing challenges that require integrated, system-wide approaches. 

Structure (sub-programmes) 

The transversal Joint Programme Energy Security and Resilience is organised into three dedicated sub-programmes (SPs), complemented by transversal sub-programmes (tSPs) to be developed in cooperation with other EERA Joint Programmes. The research priorities outlined below provide an initial framework for the programme's activities and will be further refined in collaboration with the EERA research community. 

• SP A: Geopolitical dependencies, vulnerabilities and risks – Coordinated by Jochen Linßen, Forschungszentrum Jülich. 

This sub-programme addresses geopolitical dependencies, emerging threats and vulnerabilities affecting Europe's energy systems, including supply chains and critical infrastructure. Its research priorities include foresight and monitoring of geopolitical, climate-related and technological threats, resilient supply chain modelling and strategies, and system repair and recovery capabilities. 

• SP B: Cascading effects and interdependencies – Coordinated ad interim by Knut Samdal, SINTEF. 

This sub-programme focuses on the interdependencies between energy infrastructures, technologies and sectors, and the potential for disruptions to propagate across interconnected systems. Research priorities include integrated system modelling, risk and vulnerability analyses, and interoperability standards. 

• SP C: Physical, hybrid and cyber risks - Coordinated ad interim by Helena Gerard, VITO. 

This sub-programme addresses the growing exposure of interconnected physical and digital energy infrastructure to physical, hybrid and cyber threats. Its research priorities include physical, hybrid and cyber resilience, system-wide simulation methodologies and the integration of monitoring systems. 

Transversal sub-programmes 

Additional transversal sub-programmes will address research and innovation priorities with strong connections to existing EERA Joint Programmes. Their scope and activities will be defined collaboratively, ensuring that the tJP-ESR complements technology-specific research and strengthens cooperation across the EERA community. 

Towards a coordinated European research agenda 

Following its formal adoption in May 2026 and operational launch in September 2026, the tJP-ESR is developing its research community and further refining its strategic priorities. 

Its work aims to strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, develop a shared research and innovation agenda and foster engagement with relevant European initiatives and stakeholders, including in the context of the Strategic Energy Technology (SET) Plan. 

Recognising that much of Europe's energy research is funded and prioritised nationally, the tJP-ESR also seeks to connect national research communities, facilitate knowledge exchange and foster greater alignment around shared European research challenges. 

Through this transversal approach, the programme seeks to reinforce the contribution of European energy research and innovation to energy security, resilience and preparedness, supporting Europe's broader objectives of decarbonisation, competitiveness and strategic autonomy.