The European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission have renewed their cooperation on research and innovation through a new Joint Action Plan for enhanced cooperation in research and innovation. Covering the period 2026–2029, the plan brings together the European Committee of the Regions, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, and the Joint Research Centre, with the aim of reinforcing the role of regions and cities in EU research and innovation policy.
The renewed plan reflects a growing recognition that Europe’s competitiveness, sustainability and resilience depend not only on scientific excellence, but also on the capacity of local and regional ecosystems to turn knowledge into practical solutions. Regions and cities are central to this process: they support smart specialisation strategies, foster innovation ecosystems, attract and retain talent, and help ensure that EU priorities are implemented close to citizens, companies and research communities.
Building on the previous Joint Action Plan for 2020–2025, the new framework seeks to strengthen multilevel governance in research and innovation, improve policy coherence and increase the territorial impact of EU investments. It also extends the relevance of cooperation beyond the EU, including enlargement and neighbourhood countries.
Four priorities for regional innovation
The Joint Action Plan identifies four priority areas for cooperation.
- The first priority is to build strong local and regional innovation ecosystems. This includes support for the European Research Area, knowledge transfer and valorisation, and measures to attract, develop and retain talent across European territories.
- The second priority focuses on the green and digital transitions. The plan highlights place-based innovation as a tool for sustainable and inclusive territorial transformation, with regions and cities playing a key role in turning EU climate and digital objectives into concrete local action.
- The third priority concerns the dissemination of EU funding opportunities and the results of research and innovation framework programmes. It also stresses the importance of creating synergies between different EU funds and exchanging best practices, including simplification measures.
- The fourth priority is evidence-based policymaking. The partners will work together to support territorial foresight, resilience, and access to data and analytical tools that can help regional and local authorities design better policies.
Key actions and relevance for regions
The Joint Action Plan sets out a flexible list of actions to guide cooperation in the coming years. These include maintaining the Knowledge Exchange Platform, involving regional representatives in the European Research Area, and strengthening links with the five Horizon Europe missions.
The plan also connects regional actors with key EU initiatives such as Regional Innovation Valleys, the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative, renewable energy and hydrogen valleys, Nuclear meets Regions, the New European Bauhaus, and work on territorial resilience. Other areas of cooperation include health research, cultural and creative industries, research infrastructures, and place-based innovation.
For regions and cities, the plan offers a stronger role in EU research and innovation policy. It creates opportunities to share local experience, access knowledge and funding opportunities, contribute to strategic EU initiatives, and demonstrate how innovation can support competitiveness, sustainability and cohesion on the ground.
By connecting EU-level priorities with regional and local action, the Joint Action Plan reinforces a key message: Europe’s innovation capacity depends on strong territorial ecosystems.