New Important Projects of Common European Interest taking shape

On 6 February 2025, the sixth technical meeting of the Joint European Forum on Important Projects of Common European Interest (JEF-IPCEI) convened in Brussels to review progress on key EU-wide initiatives. Participants received updates on ongoing workstreams and discussed next steps in shaping Europe's strategic industrial and technological landscape.

Following the endorsement of four new IPCEIs in November 2024—covering circular advanced materials, artificial intelligence, advanced semiconductor technologies, and edge computing infrastructure—Member States, with support from the European Commission, are now refining the scope of these projects. Meanwhile, efforts to develop Tech4Cure, a second IPCEI focused on health, are advancing steadily.

The Forum is also exploring future opportunities, with the JEF conducting pre-assessment work on a potential IPCEI in nuclear technologies. Additionally, three new identification working groups have been established to evaluate possible projects in biotechnologies, critical raw materials, and clean connected autonomous vehicles.

A significant milestone of the meeting was the adoption of a final set of common metrics for IPCEIs, which will support a structured data collection process. These metrics will contribute to the first Implementation Dashboard for IPCEIs, set to be published by the end of 2025, offering a clear overview of project progress.

Discussions also covered national best practices in budgeting, assessment, and implementation of JEF-IPCEI recommendations. Attendees were presented with a comprehensive mapping of available funding sources and Member States’ experiences in securing co-financing for IPCEI projects. A dedicated workshop provided further insights into the European Commission’s Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) initiative, which aims to enhance European technological sovereignty.

With these initiatives gaining momentum, the JEF-IPCEI continues to play a vital role in fostering cross-border collaboration, ensuring Europe remains at the forefront of innovation and industrial leadership.