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    European Innovation Partnerships (EIPs) are a new approach to EU research and innovation.
    EIPs are challenge-driven, focusing on societal benefits and a rapid modernisation of the associated sectors and markets.

    EIPs act across the whole research and innovation chain, bringing together all relevant actors at EU, national and regional levels in order to: (i) step up research and development efforts; (ii) coordinate investments in demonstration and pilots; (iii) anticipate and fast-track any necessary regulation and standards; and (iv) mobilise ‘demand’ in particular through better coordinated public procurement to ensure that any breakthroughs are quickly brought to market. Rather than taking the above steps independently, as is currently the case, the aim of the EIPs is to design and implement them in parallel to cut lead times.

    Innovation partnerships are NOT a new instrument (nor an instrument in the sense of a programme), or yet another layer coming on top of what already exists. On the contrary, the aim is to simplify, looking at ways to optimise and streamline the use of existing instruments and synergies between them, and to fill the gaps. For the EU level, the partnerships should, in particular, examine how the different instruments such as Joint Technology Initiatives (JTIs), the Article 185 Joint Programmes, European Technology Platforms (ETPs), Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs), the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), and Lead Markets Initiatives (LMI) can contribute to reaching the stated objective and to overcome the bottlenecks to achieving it. For example, the partnership could add value to an existing Joint Programming Initiative, by identifying specific actions such as in the area of standardisation or procurement, so as to maximise the overall positive impacts.


    The Partnerships should also consider how better use can be made of EU funding, including the FP7 and CIP work programmes and programmes co-funded by the Structural funds or EIB investment support. The partnership could also formulate suggestions on how access to EU and national programmes could be simplified or optimised and their leverage effect on private sector contributions enhanced.

    Although the partnerships are not a funding instrument per se, it is worth to participate and to keep yourself informed on their activities. By doing so you may know earlier about the topics of future calls and you might be even in the position to shape them towards the direction of your field of research. It is also possible that they initiated calls for tendered projects.

    Currently the following Innovation Partnerships are set up:

    For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/research/innovation-union/index_en.cfm?pg=eip