The European Union strengthens its commitment to the promotion and improvement of global competitiveness and the transition to an increasingly sustainable economy.
At the heart of this strategy are public-private partnerships, instruments acknowledged to be essential for fostering long-term collaborations, particularly in the field of research and innovation. Through Horizon Europe’s Strategic Plan 2025/2027, three initiatives are involved, with an investment of up to EUR 250 million per sector. These focus on specific topics such as photovoltaic solar energy, the circular textile economy and advanced sustainable materials.
The aim of the photovoltaic partnership is to recognise the Union’s prestigious role in the global solar energy industry. The investment amounts to approximately EUR 240 million and will help improve the resilience of solar energy production in Europe. The result will be reduced dependence on fossil fuels and full compliance with the Green Deal, the REPowerEU plan and the 2023 Renewable Energy Directive.
A further collaboration focuses on the textile sector, specifically on sustainability and the circular economy. This one emphasize EU strategy for sustainable and circular textiles and provides EUR 30 million to promote the development of innovations and new digital business models in the textile industry. The latter is aimed at revolutionizing existing production lines and supporting innovation in the sector.
The third and final partnership envisages an investment of up to EUR 250 million by 2030 to ensure technological sovereignty and industrial competitiveness for advanced materials. It’s focal point is on the production of safe and sustainable materials and related technologies that promote a circular economy in line with the EU’s advanced materials strategy for industrial leadership. The aim of this project is to make European industry more self-sufficient and gradually less dependent on external raw material imports.
Ultimately, the goal of these initiatives is clear: the strengthening of the EU’s autonomy to focus on the development of digital innovations and a more competitive and sustainable EU industrial policy. These partnerships are therefore strategic tools for achieving greater optimisation of resources and overcoming fragmentation, and this is how the Union aims to shape an innovative and sustainable European future capable of meeting global challenges.
Find out more at: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/it/ip_25_841