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European Commission initiated some measures in advancing EU’s technological leadership and sustainability by creating three new EU-wide partnerships on advanced materials, textiles and photovoltaics. Established under Horizon Europe, these partnerships will drive growth, sustainability and resilience, contributing to a strong, inclusive and globally competitive growth in the member states.
Background
Three new partnerships will complement and strengthen the existing portfolio of 12 co-programmed partnerships that were launched following the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2021-2024*). The partnerships in Horizon Europe are collaborative initiatives that bring together private and/or public entities to address the EU’s most pressing challenges through joint research and innovation activities.
More on partnerships in: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/european-partnerships-horizon-europe_en
EU-wide co-programmed partnerships involve the Commission and mostly private partners, often represented by industry associations. These partnerships facilitate joint commitments between the Commission and industry stakeholders to drive forward strategic research and innovation agendas. By bringing private and public partners together, co-programmed European Partnerships help align research and innovation efforts, leverage private investments and avoid duplication and fragmentation within the EU’s research and innovation landscape.
*) More in: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-law-and-publications/publication-detail/-/publication/3c6ffd74-8ac3-11eb-b85c-01aa75ed71a1
Additionally, the second Horizon’s edition for 2025-27 in: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/6abcc8e7-e685-11ee-8b2b-01aa75ed71a1
At the end of 2025, a fourth co-programmed partnership on Virtual Worlds will be launched; it will be aimed at shaping open, interoperable and secure virtual worlds aligned with Europe’s Digital Decade 2030 vision, promoting inclusiveness, privacy and business opportunities.
Three partnerships
1. European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics
It will strengthen Europe’s position in the global photovoltaics (PV) industry, supporting the transition to renewable energy, particularly to solar power, as outlined in the European Green Deal, the REPowerEU Plan and the 2023 Renewable Energy Directive. It will scale up the European PV manufacturing capacity, develop a more resilient value chain in the EU and reduce dependency on fossil fuels through collaboration across the entire PV value chain. The Commission and the private partners plan to invest up to €240 million each from 2025 to 2030 in the partnership.
More on Renewable Energy Directive in: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32023L2413&qid=1699364355105
2. European Partnership for Textiles of the Future
It will drive the transformation of the textile industry towards sustainability and circularity, aligning with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles*). The initiative will leverage digital innovations and new business models within the sector and enhance Europe’s strategic autonomy. At the same time, it will help to keep the industry competitive, resilient, and sustainable in a rapidly changing global market. The Commission and the private partners plan to invest up to €30 million each from 2025 to 2030 in this partnership.
*) More in: https://environment.ec.europa.eu/strategy/textiles-strategy_en
3. European Partnership for Innovative Advanced Materials
In line with the Communication on Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership*), it will strengthen technology sovereignty and industrial competitiveness in advanced materials. The partnership will respond to industrial needs and accelerate design, development and industrial uptake of safe and sustainable advanced materials and associated technologies fit for the circular economy. The Commission and the private partners plan to invest up to €250 million each by 2030 in this partnership.
*) Source: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/38970bfd-d61e-11ee-b9d9-01aa75ed71a1/language-en
Citations from the press release
= Stéphane Séjourné, Executive Vice-President for Prosperity and Industrial Strategy: “The EU is taking another important step forward in strengthening the Europe’s industrial landscape: e.g. new partnership on the future of textiles brings together the Commission and industry to drive technological progress and sustainability across the sector. This initiative will accelerate the transition toward a stronger, more competitive and sustainable European textile industry”.
= Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy: “European future depends on its ability to innovate and scale up. By fostering public-private collaboration in emerging and transformative sectors through these new partnerships, we are driving progress in key areas such as advanced materials, solar energy and textiles. Our pathway to tech sovereignty is clear: we need to transform Europe into a global digital and innovation powerhouse while reducing our reliance on imported technologies”.
= Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation: “Progress emerges when we work together. By uniting research and industry, we accelerate innovation, drive smarter investments and bridge gaps in Europe’s research and innovation landscape. Together, we build a more resilient, sustainable and competitive Europe equipped to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
Citation’s source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_841