The European Commission has opened a Call for Evidence on the future of Joint Undertakings and European Partnerships under the next EU research and innovation programme (2028–2034). Stakeholders can submit feedback until 14 July 2026, feeding into the next Multiannual Financial Framework and the evolution of Horizon Europe instruments. The aim is to ensure these partnerships continue to drive strategic value, competitiveness, innovation, and technological sovereignty.

Joint Undertakings have long anchored European industrial R&I policy, pooling resources from the EU, member states, industry, academia, and research organisations to enable sustained investment in strategic technologies and pan-European value chains. For the electronic components and systems (ECS) sector, these partnerships have been crucial – from ECSEL and KDT to the current Chips Joint Undertaking – supporting collaborative research, pilot lines, and technology deployment that bolster Europe’s semiconductor ecosystem and strategic autonomy. The outcome of this consultation will shape the post-2027 framework for such collaborative programmes.

The Commission’s Call for Evidence outlines several reform priorities: streamlining partnership models, reducing fragmentation across the landscape, adopting a portfolio approach to select a more coherent set of partnerships, aligning objectives with the future European Competitiveness Fund, and establishing a single legislative framework with harmonised rules for Joint Undertakings while preserving sector-specific flexibility. This reflects a broader push to simplify EU funding without sacrificing effective public-private cooperation in strategic industrial sectors.

For the ECS community and organisations involved in the Chips Joint Undertaking, the consultation carries significant weight. No single entity can build Europe’s technological capabilities alone, and Joint Undertakings provide a unique mechanism to combine European, national, and private investments around common challenges, accelerate innovation, and sharpen industrial competitiveness. The future legal and operational framework will impact cross-border collaboration, technology roadmaps, pilot lines, SME participation, investment mechanisms, and Europe’s position in semiconductors, AI, quantum, communications, and digital infrastructures.

All interested parties are invited to respond via the European Commission’s consultation portal. The feedback period runs from 16 June to 14 July 2026 (midnight Brussels time), under a planned Regulation proposal. The industry association AENEAS is urging its members and the wider ECS ecosystem to engage and help shape Europe’s collaborative R&I future.

The European Commission has launched a Call for Evidence on the future framework for European Partnerships implemented as Joint Undertakings under the next EU research and innovation programme period (2028–2034).

Open for feedback until 14 July 2026, the consultation forms part of the preparations for the next Multiannual Financial Framework and the future evolution of Horizon Europe instruments. The initiative seeks stakeholder input on how Joint Undertakings can continue to deliver strategic value for Europe while contributing to competitiveness, innovation and technological sovereignty.

Why does this matter?

Over the past decades, Joint Undertakings have become a cornerstone of European industrial research and innovation policy. By bringing together the European Union, Member States, industry, research organisations and academia, they have enabled long-term investments in strategic technologies and strengthened collaboration across European value chains.

For the Electronic Components and Systems (ECS) community, Joint Undertakings have played a particularly important role. From ECSEL and KDT to today’s Chips Joint Undertaking, these public-private partnerships have supported collaborative research, innovation, pilot lines and technology deployment, helping Europe strengthen its semiconductor ecosystem and strategic autonomy.

The current consultation could therefore influence the future framework under which European collaborative R&I programmes will operate after 2027.

What is the Commission proposing?

According to the Call for Evidence, the European Commission aims to strengthen the impact of European Partnerships by:

Streamlining partnership implementation models;

Reducing fragmentation across the European Partnership landscape;

Introducing a portfolio approach to identify a more coherent set of partnerships;

Aligning partnership objectives more closely with the future European Competitiveness Fund;

Establishing harmonised rules for Joint Undertakings through a single legislative framework while preserving the flexibility needed to address sector-specific priorities.

The initiative reflects a broader ambition to simplify EU funding structures while ensuring that strategic industrial sectors continue to benefit from effective public-private cooperation.

Implications for the ECS ecosystem

The consultation is particularly relevant for organisations involved in the Chips Joint Undertaking and the wider ECS ecosystem. As highlighted by the Chips JU, no single country, organisation or company can build Europe’s technological capabilities alone. Joint Undertakings provide a unique framework for pooling European, national and private investments, enabling stakeholders to address common technological challenges, accelerate innovation and strengthen industrial competitiveness.

The future legal and operational framework of Joint Undertakings will therefore have implications for:

Cross-border research and innovation collaboration;

Industrial technology roadmaps;

Pilot lines and technology infrastructures;

SME participation in European projects;

Public-private investment mechanisms;

Europe’s competitiveness in strategic technologies, including semiconductors, AI, quantum technologies, communications and digital infrastructures.

Have Your Say

The European Commission is inviting feedback from all interested stakeholders. This is an opportunity to contribute to the discussion on how European Partnerships and Joint Undertakings should evolve to support Europe’s technological leadership, industrial resilience and long-term competitiveness.

Consultation Details

Consultation: Future European Partnerships implemented as Joint Undertakings

Feedback period: 16 June – 14 July 2026 (midnight Brussels time)

Type of initiative: Proposal for a Regulation

Topic: Business and Industry, Research and Innovation

Submit your feedback via the European Commission consultation portal. More information on the EC website.

AENEAS encourages its members and the wider ECS community to engage with this consultation and contribute their perspectives on the future of Europe’s collaborative research and innovation landscape.

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