Europe must lead in innovation with purpose – tackling digital inclusion, green transitions, health, security, and public services. These are common challenges that no single country or company can address alone. Joint undertakings are impactful public-private partnerships that turn these collective ambitions into action.
What are joint undertakings?
Joint Undertakings are partnerships between the European Union and industry and/or Member States.
They co-fund ambitious research and innovation projects, bringing together a wide range of participants - from companies, including SMEs and startups, to Member States, researchers, civil society, and end-users.
Today, 11 such joint undertakings are shaping Europe’s future in sectors like bioeconomy, health, chips, high-performance computing, telecom, and transport.
Generating value for Europe
Joint undertakings are built for impact at scale:
- Mission-driven, long-term R&I agendas.
- Shared public-private investment and risk.
- Full innovation chain from lab to market.
- European ecosystems with global reach.
- Critical mass beyond any single actor.
Powering EU’s competitiveness
- Accelerating innovation: joint undertakings fast-track next-gen technologies, keeping Europe ahead in global markets.
- Driving collaboration: joint undertakings connect industry, SMEs, academia, and public bodies to co-create solutions.
- Scaling up: joint undertakings deliver large, EU-wide projects that no single country or sector could do alone.
- Fast-tracking from lab to market: joint undertakings speed up commercialisation, bringing innovations to Europeans faster.
- Boosting business and local economies: joint undertakings strengthen Europe’s industrial edge, opening global market opportunities, while creating jobs and new income sources locally.
- Attracting and retaining investments in Europe which could have gone to other regions of the world.
Unlocking impactful solutions for the EU
- Policy alignment: joint undertakings align with key EU priorities like the Clean Industrial Deal and the upcoming Biotech and Biomanufacturing Act.
- Agility & flexibility: joint undertakings respond quickly to evolving needs.
- Scalability & synergy: joint undertakings pool resources and link strategies across Europe and beyond.
- Streamlined & efficient: with smart governance and low administrative burden, joint undertakings deliver faster and better.
Building strategic autonomy
JUs reinforce Europe’s sovereignty in key tech and supply chains by:
- Creating resilient, local ecosystems.
- Pooling financial, human, and technical resources.
- Aligning with global standards to shape international rules.
- Attracting and retaining world-class talent.
Delivering real-world impact
Each in their own field, joint undertakings help Europe thrive in critical areas. CBE JU is:
- Supporting research and innovation for sustainable bio-based solutions.
- De-risking investments in innovative, circular bio-based production plants.
- Addressing the technological, regulatory & market challenges of the bioeconomy.
- Placing sustainability at the heart of its operations, and helping to green European industries.
- Strengthening the collaboration of all bioeconomy actors along the value chains.
- Boosting local economies and revival or regions by providing new income sources and business opportunities.