EERA has submitted its contribution to the European Commission’s public consultation on the future European Partnership landscape under Horizon Europe 2028–2034 (FP10). 

This is a key dossier for EERA and its members. As the EU shapes its next research and innovation framework, European Partnerships will play an important role in pooling expertise and resources to help develop the energy system of the future — a cornerstone of Europe’s decarbonisation, competitiveness and security objectives, and ultimately of its long-term resilience. 

EERA’s position advocates for a future Partnership portfolio that recognises the strategic role of energy research and innovation, builds on existing European cooperation frameworks and reflects the diversity and needs of the energy R&I community. 

Six key messages underpin EERA’s position: 

1. Secure energy as a distinct thematic area in the future European Partnership portfolio. The specific challenges of Europe's energy transition justify a dedicated thematic focus. At the same time, energy R&I plays an important enabling role across other strategic R&I priorities, and its contribution should therefore also be recognised beyond the energy domain. 
2. Build on the SET Plan architecture when shaping future energy Partnerships. Draw on the priorities, expertise and coordination mechanisms developed under the SET Plan to strengthen alignment between European and national energy R&I efforts in the future Partnership landscape. 
3. Preserve the R&I focus of European Partnerships and ensure effective links with the ECF for deployment and scale-up. Partnerships should not shift predominantly towards deployment. To support the transition from research and innovation to industrial uptake, deployment and scale-up, effective coordination mechanisms should be established with the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), ensuring continuity without creating gaps or rigid divisions along the R&I chain. 
4. Build a European Partnership portfolio that preserves the diversity of strategic energy R&I communities. The future portfolio should build on successful existing Partnerships while remaining open to new ones that demonstrate clear added value in addressing Europe's strategic priorities. Any consolidation into broader Partnerships should preserve the visibility, distinct priorities and adequate funding of the different technological communities concerned, while fostering synergies and more integrated approaches across them 
5. Ensure sustained support for strategic R&I areas beyond European Partnerships. Strategically important energy R&I areas without a dedicated Partnership must continue to receive adequate support through other FP10 instruments. This requires a balanced allocation of FP10 research funding between Partnerships and other collaborative research activities, ensuring continuity and critical mass across the wider energy R&I community. 
6. Simplify European Partnership implementation and ensure fair recognition of in-kind contributions. Streamline participation rules, as well as monitoring and reporting requirements, to reduce administrative burdens, while ensuring that financing arrangements adequately recognise in-kind contributions from research organisations and do not impose disproportionate cash contribution requirements.