Framework Partnership Agreement supporting Joint Actions towards Public-Public Partnerships in the Bioeconomy

Deadline: Sep 13, 2016  
CALL EXPIRED

Topic Description

Agriculture, forestry, the agri-food sector and the non-food value chains are integral parts of the economy and society in Europe. They are subject to multiple external pressures such as rising demand for food, feed, fuel and fibres, globalisation, environmental changes and public health considerations. They are also constrained by physical limits such as the availability of land and water. Global population is expected to increase. This is likely to be accompanied by an increased rate of environmental change, rising demand for animal food products and competition for natural resources. This means that agriculture, forestry and their value chains will need to become more efficient, and sustainable.

Over 90% of the research that takes place in Europe is funded by national programmes. It is therefore vital that there is continued support for the transnational coordination of national and regional research programmes under Horizon 2020 to build on the significant progress already made. This is central to maximising the leverage, synergies, efficiency gains and structural improvements needed to underpin the European Research Area and continue the positive developments in the Bioeconomy sector, while at the same time streamlining the joint activities. This means Horizon 2020 needs fit-for-purpose, streamlined coordination mechanisms and appropriate financial support.

The purpose of this call is to create a single[[This is in line with the objective of transnational coordination of national/regional programmes, with a maximum number of countries participating in the resulting joint actions.]] Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA) to strengthen and simplify cooperation between the European Commission and Member States' programme managers and programme owners under Societal Challenge 2 (Bioeconomy). This will allow Member States to develop and implement a long-term action plan based on a set of ERA-NET Cofund actions. Proposals under this call should cover a wide range of countries and different programme managers and owners.

Only one proposal will be funded under this topic.

At a later date, the Commission will launch an invitation to submit proposals[[The resulting ERA-NET Cofund actions are actions with specific characteristics that require a particular type of body (programme managers and programme owners).]] for Specific Grant Agreements under this Framework Partnership Agreement.

The simplification of ERA-NET Cofund actions is an important milestone in boosting collaboration with and between Member States. In relation to Societal Challenge 2 (Bioeconomy), it is expected to:

• establish long-term and more strategic collaboration between programme managers and owners in Member States in areas of common interest in relation to Societal Challenge 2;
• increase the involvement of programme managers and owners in jointly addressing sustainability challenges, including through ERA-NET Cofund actions, thereby improving cooperation at European and global levels between Joint Programming Initiatives and ERA-NETs under a common strategic framework.

The Framework Partnership Agreement will in this instance last for 5 years in order to cover the remaining duration of Horizon 2020. This is justified by the fact that it is planned that the joint actions will continue until the end of Horizon 2020. Proposals submitted under this call should include all organisations that intend to participate in future ERA-NET Cofund actions.