In today’s world of overlapping crises, no single actor or nation can go it alone – even the EU, with all its collective strength. These complex challenges demand a new approach, one that’s cooperative, cross-sectoral and forward-looking.
That’s why multistakeholder research and innovation (R&I) partnerships aren’t a luxury – they’re a necessity. When governments, researchers, industry, civil society and philanthropies join forces, they tap into shared strengths and co-create knowledge that can deliver real-world solutions.
Global progress now depends on this kind of bold collaboration.
The EU’s partnerships evolution continues
Horizon Europe was a turning point by consolidating partnerships, halving their overall number and broadening (although still rather timidly) the EU’s overall international engagement. Through the Global Gateway the EU has taken steps to foster inclusive and sustainable development, yet the level of multistakeholder cooperation is still limited. The Covid-19 pandemic also showed just how important well-designed and effectively implemented multistakeholder partnerships are when responding to global challenges.
The upcoming 10th Framework Programme (FP10) marks a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shift from surface-level, often ad hoc, collaborations towards more ambitious, strategic and inclusive partnerships grounded in equity, co-ownership and long-term impact. The Commission’s proposal positions FP10 as a vehicle to enhance international cooperation, to boost EU R&I competitiveness, attract global talent and address shared global challenges, including through synergies with the Global Europe programme.
European partnerships will remain central but they will be radically simplified and further streamlined. Yet as already underscored in recent CEPS analyses (January 2025 and July 2025), it’s important that the notion of partnership be significantly revised to align with international practice.
In short, the EU must ensure that its partnerships are mission-oriented and engage diverse global stakeholders – including private and public entities. This also implies that partnerships for global challenges are kept separate from more inward-looking programmes and projects focused on EU competitiveness and security, as CEPS has also argued.
Inclusive partnerships can deliver results – just look at health
Health is perhaps the best example of why multisectoral and international partnerships matter – diseases don’t respect borders and effective responses require collaboration that cuts across sectors and geographies.
Partnerships allow actors to pool expertise, resources and networks in ways no single institution could achieve on its own. The European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (Global Health EDCTP3) is a good example. By aligning with the EU Global Health Strategy and the AU-EU Innovation Agenda, it has mobilised diverse partners and delivered concrete results. This includes the R21 malaria vaccine, new treatments for paediatric HIV and cryptococcal meningitis, rapid mpox responses in the DRC, and training for over 362 African research fellows and 53 000 health workers.
Similarly, the Innovative Health Initiative shows how inclusive, cross-sectoral collaboration can drive impact beyond medicines, expanding into diagnostics, digital health, biotechnology and medical technology. Over 90% of its 16 active projects bridge multiple technology sectors, while initiatives including EHDEN, EUPATI, INNODIA and the Patient Pool ensure structural sustainability and genuine patient engagement.
Crucially, health is also the only policy domain where synergies between Horizon Europe and its external action instrument (NDICI-Global Europe) have been successfully realised through EDCTP3 and the Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines.
This makes health an excellent model for showcasing how co-financing and cross-instrument alignment can work.
Not all partnerships are created equal
Lessons from EU and global R&I partnerships highlight recurring factors of success, including multistakeholder governance, long term commitments, strong local ownership and clearly defined priorities. Gavi has successfully strengthened immunisation programmes in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) and has been widely credited for its emphasis on local engagement, country ownership and close collaboration with industry.
Yet persistent shortcomings undermine many partnership models. Administrative complexity, fragmented funding systems, weak internal coordination and the underrepresentation of LMIC partners affect coherence and impact. That’s why embedding robust multistakeholder governance from the outset is key to maximising the inclusivity and effectiveness of EU R&I investments.
Rethinking the EU’s approach to R&I partnerships – seven steps to success
As the EU charts its next R&I framework, it faces a critical test. Will it double down on familiar structures or recalibrate the EU’s role in the global R&I ecosystem? The foundations are clear – equity, agility, flexibility and deep partner engagement. Global challenges are growing more complex and Europe’s research partnerships must rise to meet them.
First, stability matters. That means shifting from fragmented, short-term collaborations to long-term, institutionalised partnerships with real impact. FP10 should build on successful models, ensuring partnerships are financially sustainable, regularly evaluated and able to adapt to changing needs. Where private investment is limited, sustained public funding is essential.
Second, collaboration should be broader and deeper. Tackling global challenges requires cross-sector, multistakeholder engagement, from governments to philanthropies. The EU should reduce barriers for international partners and create mechanisms that welcome co-funding from global donors – including philanthropic actors.
Third, the EU must be flexible in how it participates. Sometimes leading, sometimes partnering, depending on the issue, region and expertise. Mobilising national and private R&I funding will be crucial, given Horizon Europe/FP10 only represents a fraction of Europe’s total public R&I spending.
Fourth, EU research should be better aligned with external action instruments like Team Europe Initiatives under the Global Gateway. This can scale science and innovation to achieve broader development and geopolitical goals.
Fifth, real inclusivity demands that LMIC partners have a voice in both designing and implementing R&I partnerships. Removing legal and administrative barriers preventing full participation is essential for fostering equity and local ownership.
And finally, simplifying the EU’s procedural and financial rules is key. Administrative burdens remain too high. FP10 should make it easier – not harder – for global partners to work with Europe.
FP10 must not simply replicate past partnership models. It should innovate, making global multistakeholder R&I collaboration central to Europe’s ambition to lead the world in the pursuit of finding tangible, workable solutions to the many global challenges we’re facing.
To read the full report that this commentary is based on, click here.
To read all publications in the ‘EU R&I and Health Policy’ series, please click here.
