As a network of research-intensive universities involved in partnerships, we believe their selection process under FP10 should consider not only necessity and thematic alignment, but also the award criteria set out in Article 25(1): excellence, impact, and the quality and efficiency of implementation. Partnerships must reinforce European added value and align with EU strategic priorities, while ensuring that prioritisation does not undermine effective governance, implementation, or partners’ confidence in further investment.
Building on collaboration between African and European countries, Global Health EDCTP3 is a flagship of the AU-EU Innovation Agenda and helps articulate the research dimension of the EU Global Gateway. Its equitable joint governance, steered by the EDCTP Association, has built a level of fruitful trust between African and European countries that no other instrument has matched. Therefore, The Guild strongly recommends that Global Health EDCTP3 remains a standalone joint undertaking to continue fostering stronger partnerships across the two continents.
Similarly, IHI has brought together industry, academia, SMEs and patient organisations in more than 200 collaborative projects since 2021, helping translate health research into health innovations that benefit European citizens. Through its public-private model, IHI supports Europe’s ambitions in life sciences, biotechnology, healthcare and competitiveness while ensuring that innovation remains responsive to societal needs. The Guild recommends retaining IHI’s distinctive model to continue to strengthen and build Europe’s Health Union.
There is a significant tension between the demand for new partnerships, and the need to limit the number of partnerships to ensure we maximise the added value of R&I investment. Any final decision on which partnerships should be funded in FP10 must therefore not only satisfy the highest standards of excellence, alongside impact and the quality of the research environment. Through the example of the EDCTP3 and IHI partnerships, we also insist that any partnerships approved must also meet an additional criterion of added strategic value to the wider goals of the European Union.
Secretary-General Jan Palmowski