European Partnerships

European Partnerships

European Partnerships create a platform for strengthened and structured collaboration and knowledge exchange between various actors in the European R&I system and enhanced coordination of strategic research agendas and/or R&I funding programmes. They are based on agreed objectives and a long-term vision, underpinned by Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIAs) to which all partners in the partnership commit. This is a key feature that distinguishes European Partnerships from other collaborative research instruments. Partnerships also enhance cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral collaboration and integration of value chains and ecosystems, improving integration of sectoral R&I policies, notably through more systematic and extended reach and engagement of stakeholders such as end-users and public authorities.

In Horizon Europe, there are three different implementation modes for European Partnerships.

Co-funded

  • Co-funding of joint programmes of R&I activities between R&I funders. They are based on a Horizon Europe Grant Agreement signed by the Commission and a consortium of partners, generally composed of R&I funders and other public authorities. 

Institutionalised partnerships

  • Joint Undertakings (JUs): long-term collaborations with private (sometimes also public) partners requiring a high degree of integration. 
  • Article 185 initiatives: long-term collaborations with public partners requiring a high degree of integration. 
  • European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) – Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs): Europe-wide innovation ecosystems that integrate education, research and entrepreneurship. They are established in compliance with the EIT regulation and the EIT strategic Innovation Agenda.

Co-programmed

  • Joint programming of R&I activities and mobilisation of additional activities by partners in line with the objectives of the partnership. They are based on a Memorandum of Understanding, generally with industry associations. The EU contribution is implemented through the Horizon Europe mechanisms (work programmes and their calls for proposals), and matching partners’ contributions are implemented under their responsibility.

The main differences between these forms of European Partnership are in their preparation and how they function, as well as in the overall impact they can trigger. The Co-funded and Co-programmed Partnerships are linked to the strategic plan and the Horizon Europe work programmes. Article 185 and JU Institutionalised Partnerships require the adoption of separate legislation and are subject to an ex-ante impact assessment. 

European Partnerships are established only if there is evidence that they will support the achievement of EU policy objectives more effectively than other Horizon Europe actions.

The Horizon Europe strategic plan 2025-2027 includes a list of new candidate Co-Funded and Co-programmed European Partnerships to be launched during the second half of Horizon Europe.

 

Participation of Spain

Spain currently participates in all of the European Partnerships, demonstrating the country’s global interest and commitment in all thematic areas. Spain's participation is carried out through different national (AEI, CEDTI, ISCIII, etc.) and regional funding agencies (Innobasque, SPRI, etc.) depending on the thematic area.

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Source: European Commission

European Partnership's projects

EnviroMood: Neurobiological mechanisms of the environment-plasticity-behavior interaction

Specific programme: NEURON COFUND 2 2023

The objective of the call is to facilitate multinational and collaborative research projects that address critical transnational issues to improve our knowledge on the neurobiological mechanisms involved in the mechanisms of resilience and vulnerability to environmental challenges in mental health.

Project PCI2024-153463 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and Co-financed by the European Union.

APCIN code: PCI2024-153463

UPV/EHU: IP beneficiary

UPV/EHU: Shira Knafo

Project start: 01/04/2024

Project end: 31/03/2027

Brief description: Mental health disorders, particularly Major Depressive Disorder or anxiety disorders, are among the most important health problems worldwide, causing severe individual suffering and an enormous socioeconomic burden on society. Since the onset and progression of both disorders are highly influenced by contextual factors, the main idea of ​​the EnviroMood project is that plasticity is an underlying mechanism in both resilience and vulnerability, depending on the environmental context.

Based on findings from animal and human research, we postulate that it is environmental valence that determines whether brain networks are directed towards resilience or vulnerability, and plasticity states determine to what extent these environmental effects become permanent.

To this end, EnviroMood will use a back-translation approach to elucidate the interplay between environment, plasticity and behaviour as well as their underlying mechanisms: Starting from a proof-of-concept trial in humans and network analysis, we will test a differential modulation of mood by positively and negatively valenced behavioural interventions in different plasticity states. Furthermore, we will use plasticity stimulus-response methods to verify the effect of depression or drugs on plasticity correlates in humans (WP1). We will then back-translate this approach to animal models in rodents and assess behavioural vulnerability and resilience in mice under standardised conditions (IntelliCages) under different environmental conditions and plasticity-related drug treatment (WP2). Central monitoring of behavioural experiments in the IntelliCages will enable a high standardisation of behavioural experiments and animal models. To assess plasticity, we will measure synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and amygdala in brain slices from these animals (WP3). In addition, we assess drug effects on AMPAR expression, spine, and network plasticity using state-of-the-art in vitro approaches (WP4). To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the interaction between environment, plasticity, and behavior, we will use behavioral and ex vivo experiments of animals treated in IntelliCages and focus on the role of the TrkB pathway (WP5), amygdala (WP6), and microglia (WP7). We will use psychedelics (compared to SSRIs and ketamine from previous experiments) to increase and benzodiazepines to decrease plasticity. A deeper understanding of the interaction between environment, plasticity, and behavior will lead to the development of innovative interventions to increase resilience, decrease vulnerability, and promote mental health.

Project PCI2024-153463 funded by MICIU/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and Co-financed by the European Union.