FantasticSearch

(1) In order to achieve the greatest possible impact of Union funding and the most effective contribution to the Union’s policy objectives, Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council established Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, which provides for the policy and legal framework for European Partnerships with private or public sector partners, or both. European Partnerships are a key element of the policy approach of Horizon Europe. They are set up to deliver on Union commitments and priorities targeted by Horizon Europe and to ensure a clear impact for the Union, its citizens and the environment, which can be achieved more effectively in a partnership, through a strategic vision that is shared and committed to by partners, rather than by the Union alone.

(2) In particular, European Partnerships under Horizon Europe’s Pillar II, ‘Global challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’ (Pillar II), are expected to play an important role in achieving the strategic objectives of accelerating the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), the Union’s commitments under the Paris Agreement, adopted under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (the ‘Paris Agreement’), as well as the transitions towards a green and digital Europe, while contributing to a socially, economically, and environmentally resilient recovery. European Partnerships are key to addressing complex cross-border challenges that require an integrated approach. They make it possible to address transformational, systematic and market failures by bringing together a broad range of players across value chains, research and innovation areas and industrial ecosystems to work towards a common vision and translate it into concrete roadmaps and a coordinated implementation of activities. Furthermore, they make it possible to concentrate efforts and resources on common priorities to solve the complex challenges ahead, in order to benefit society.

(3) In order to deliver on priorities and impact, European Partnerships should be developed through a broad involvement of relevant stakeholders across Europe, including industry, higher education institutions, research organisations, bodies with a public service mission at local, regional, national or international level, and civil society organisations, including foundations, that support or carry out research and innovation. European Partnerships should also be one of the measures to strengthen cooperation and synergies at international level, among private sector partners and public sector partners and between them, including by joining up research and innovation programmes and cross-border investment in research and innovation, bringing mutual benefits to people and businesses.

(4) A European Partnership on Metrology should be established. Such a partnership is intended to be a more effective means of delivery than traditional calls for proposals or co-funded partnerships under the work programmes prepared under the related clusters of Pillar II.

(5) The European Partnership on Metrology (the ‘Metrology Partnership’) should implement its mission and objectives in a clear, simple and flexible way in order to increase its attractiveness to industry, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other relevant stakeholders.

(6) The Metrology Partnership should promote and reward scientific excellence and support the uptake and systematic use of research and innovation results generated within the Union, including by ensuring that state-of-the-art science and fundamental research findings are taken into account in the implementation of its activities. It should also strive to ensure that the results of its actions are taken up and deployed by industry and innovators and, ultimately, in society.

(7) In order to guarantee scientific excellence and in line with Article 13 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union, the Metrology Partnership should promote academic freedom in all of the Participating States, in particular the freedom to conduct scientific research, and promote the highest standards of scientific integrity.

(8) In line with the objectives of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, any Member State and any third country associated to Horizon Europe should be entitled to participate in the Metrology Partnership. In order to ensure complementarity within the European Economic Area (EEA) and with other neighbouring countries, other third countries should be able to participate in the Metrology Partnership, subject to the conclusion of a relevant international agreement for scientific and technological cooperation with the Union and the agreement of the Participating States.

(9) Horizon Europe introduces a more strategic, coherent and impact-driven approach to European Partnerships, building on the lessons learned from the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020 - the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020) established by Regulation (EU) No 1291/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council . Regulation (EU) 2021/695 provides for the possibility to make more effective use of Institutionalised European Partnerships, in particular by focusing on clear objectives, outcomes and impacts that can be achieved by 2030, and by ensuring a clear contribution to related Union policy priorities and policies. Close collaboration, complementarity and synergies with other relevant programmes and initiatives at Union, national and regional level, including with the European Research Council and the European Innovation Council and in particular with other European Partnerships, will be key in fostering the innovation pipeline and research in other areas, achieving greater impact and ensuring that the results are used in all relevant areas where technological development is linked with metrology, such as digitalisation, artificial intelligence, energy, smart health, climate, autonomous traffic and the circular economy.

(10) By Decision No 555/2014/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council , the Union made a financial contribution to the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR) matching that of the states participating in EMPIR but not exceeding EUR 300 000 000, for the duration of Horizon 2020. The interim evaluation of EMPIR in July 2017 gave rise to a new initiative being suggested.

(11) The Union’s financial contribution to the Metrology Partnership should be subject to formal commitments by the Participating States to contribute financially to the implementation of the Metrology Partnership and to fulfil those commitments. The contributions from the Participating States should include a contribution to the administrative costs pertaining to the implementation of the Metrology Partnership, subject to a ceiling of 5 % of its budget. The Participating States should commit to increasing, if necessary, their contribution to the Metrology Partnership by establishing a reserve funding capability to ensure that they are able to fund their national entities, national metrology institutes (NMIs) and designated institutes (DIs) participating in the activities of the Metrology Partnership. The joint implementation of the Metrology Partnership requires an implementation structure. The Union’s financial contribution should be managed in accordance with the principle of sound financial management and with the relevant rules on indirect management laid down in Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2018/1046 of the European Parliament and of the Council .

(12) The Metrology Partnership, which is aligned with the political priorities of the Union, including the European Green Deal, an economy that works for people, and a Europe Fit for the Digital Age, should be implemented over a period of 10 years, from 2021 to 2031. The Metrology Partnership should include new activities compared to EMPIR, and, in particular, the development of European metrology networks, which should be established in an open and transparent manner with the aim of responding to pressing societal and environmental challenges and metrology needs from emerging technologies and innovations. The metrology capacity provided through those networks should be equivalent and comparable to other world-leading metrology systems, demonstrating world-class excellence. Calls for proposals under the Metrology Partnership should be launched during the implementation of Horizon Europe and should be open, transparent and competitive. The Metrology Partnership should promote the circulation of talent and the development of skills, including by means of skilling and re-skilling opportunities.

(13) The activities of the Metrology Partnership should be carried out in line with the objectives and research and innovation priorities of Horizon Europe and in accordance with the general principles and conditions laid down in Article 10 of, and Annex III to, Regulation (EU) 2021/695, supporting, inter alia, the uptake of innovative solutions in European industry, in particular by SMEs and, ultimately, in society.

(14) A ceiling should be established for the Union’s financial contribution in the Metrology Partnership for the duration of Horizon Europe. Within the limits of that ceiling, the Union’s financial contribution should be up to equal to the contributions from the Participating States in order to achieve a high leverage effect and ensure a stronger integration of Participating States’ programmes.