Researchers must fight for the right to partner

Challenging times ahead for Europe’s collaboration initiatives

Partnerships involving the EU, national governments and industry that have channelled billions of euros to hundreds of research projects could lose EU support under European Commission plans.

The Horizon 2020 funding programme has backed 10 Joint Programming Initiatives—public-public partnerships that align national R&D funding in areas such as ageing and climate change. These partnerships have channelled €650 million to almost 500 projects to date. Horizon 2020 has also supported seven huge joint undertakings between the EU and industry in areas including drug development and aviation emissions, as well as public-private partnerships in areas such as robotics and computing.