The European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions have signed a new Joint Action Plan entitled “Strengthening the Role of Cities and Regions in Shaping the EU Research and Innovation Agenda.”
This initiative aims to reinforce the regional and local dimension of EU research and innovation policies, support the implementation of the Commission’s key initiatives at local and regional levels, and facilitate the exchange of expertise and data between the two institutions.
Four Concrete Priorities
The action plan sets out four concrete priorities:
- Building strong local and regional innovation ecosystems
- Facilitating the green and digital transitions
- Raising awareness of funding opportunities under Horizon Europe
- Supporting the development of evidence-based policymaking
Building on Past Success
The plan builds on the success of the first Joint Action Plan, which ran from 2020 to 2025 and already enabled closer cooperation between the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions on research and innovation policies, ensuring a more integrated approach.
Regions remain at the heart of the EU’s research and innovation agenda.
Officials say the renewed plan reflects a growing recognition that innovation policy succeeds or fails largely at the local level.
