The European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions have unveiled a new Joint Action Plan to strengthen the role of cities and regions in shaping Europe’s research and innovation landscape
The Joint Action Plan serves as a new way to ensure that innovation policies are designed at the EU level and actively developed and implemented in partnership with local and regional authorities.
A stronger local role in innovation
A big part of the Joint Action Plan is the commitment to deepen collaboration between European institutions and regional governments. By improving collaboration, the EU wants to make sure that research and innovation efforts deliver real benefits to communities across all regions, rather than being concentrated in a few major hubs.
The Joint Action Plan outlines a framework for cooperation that will run through the current EU mandate, building on earlier efforts from 2020 to 2025.
It emphasises that regions should act not just as implementers of policy, but as co-creators, bringing local expertise, priorities, and challenges into the decision-making process.
Four priorities guiding the plan
The Joint Action Plan is structured around four key priorities designed to boost competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience across Europe.
First, the plan focuses on building stronger local and regional innovation ecosystems. This includes advancing the European Research Area and ensuring that cutting-edge research translates into real-world applications. A major component of this effort is attracting and retaining skilled talent within regions.
Second, it aims to accelerate the green and digital transitions by supporting local innovation. Cities and regions are seen as critical testing grounds for sustainable technologies and inclusive solutions that can later be scaled across Europe.
Third, the plan aims to improve awareness of and access to funding opportunities, particularly through programmes such as Horizon Europe. By helping local authorities better navigate funding systems and share best practices, the EU hopes to unlock more innovation potential across diverse regions.
The Joint Action Plan also promotes evidence-based policymaking. This includes using data, foresight, and resilience planning to help regions anticipate challenges and design more effective innovation strategies.
The Joint Action Plan reflects the EU’s broader ambition to link innovation with regional development.
By fostering collaboration between institutions and local actors, the Joint Action Plan aims to reduce disparities across regions while boosting overall competitiveness.
Encouraging knowledge exchange and strengthening local innovation networks are expected to play a crucial role in achieving these goals. The plan also highlights the importance of aligning different funding streams and policies to create synergies that maximise impact.
This new phase of collaboration builds on the success of the previous Joint Action Plan, which helped establish stronger ties between EU institutions and regional stakeholders. The updated framework expands on those foundations with a more structured approach and a broader set of actions.
