EERA has submitted feedback to the European Commission's Call for Evidence on the future of European Partnerships implemented as Joint Undertakings. With European Partnerships set to remain a key part of Framework Programme 10 (FP10), EERA has drawn on its experience as the research pillar of the Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET Plan) to put forward six recommendations for the future of Joint Undertakings. 

EERA recommends that future Joint Undertakings should: 

• Be designed according to the policy objectives they are expected to deliver, rather than following a one-size-fits-all governance model or fixed minimum budget thresholds. 

• Remain part of a coherent European Partnerships portfolio, where different partnership models respond to different policy objectives, technology maturity levels, and stakeholder ecosystems. 

• Ensure a seamless interface between FP10 and the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), enabling a more effective translation of research results into industrial uptake and societal impact across the innovation-to-investment journey.  

• Adopt a stronger system-oriented innovation approach, integrating technological, social, legal and regulatory, and organisational readiness to accelerate the deployment of innovative solutions at scale.  

• Reduce administrative burden and strengthen coherence across the partnership landscape through simplification, while preserving the flexibility and effectiveness of successful partnership models.  

• Remain open, transparent and inclusive, preserving co-creation among universities, research organisations, industry and Member States, while continuing to recognise the value of in-kind contributions. 

Through these recommendations, EERA aims to help ensure that future Joint Undertakings continue to support excellent research, encourage collaboration, and deliver greater impact for Europe's clean energy transition.