European Innovation Partnerships

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.

EIPs streamline, simplify and better coordinate existing instruments and initiatives and complement them with new actions where necessary. This should make it easier for partners to co-operate and achieve better and faster results compared to what exists already. Therefore, they build upon relevant existing tools and actions and, where this makes sense, they integrate them into a single coherent policy framework. Flexibility is important; there is not a 'one-size-fits-all' framework.

EIPs are launched only in areas, and consist only of activities, in which government intervention is clearly justified and where combining EU, national and regional efforts in R&D and demand-side measures will achieve the target quicker and more efficiently.

May 2012: Complementary Frequently Asked Questions regarding European Innovation Partnerships 

December 2010: Frequently Asked Questions regarding European Innovation Partnerships  64 KB