Joint Programming Initiatives*

The following Joint Programming Initiatives (JPIs) have been launched to date (please see News for more details):

• Alzheimer and other Neurodegenerative Diseases (JPND)
• Agriculture, Food Security and Climate Change (FACCE)
• A Healthy Diet for a Healthy Life
• Cultural Heritage and Global Change: A New Challenge for Europe
• Urban Europe - Global Urban Challenges, Joint European Solutions
• Connecting Climate Knowledge for Europe (CliK'EU)
• More Years, Better Lives - The Potential and Challenges of Demographic Change
• Antimicrobial Resistance- The Microbial Challenge - An Emerging Threat to Human Health
• Water Challenges for a Changing World
• Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans

At the end of 2010, the GPC produced a report on the first two years of the Joint Programming process and adopted Guidelines on for Framework Conditions on Joint Programming

(http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/docs/en/voluntary_guidelines.pdf).

The Guidelines should facilitate the implementation of JPIs by providing advice on administrative, normative and regulatory factors considered essential for the effective implementation of Joint Programming in Research such as:

• Peer Review Procedures
• Foresight Activities
• Evaluation of Joint Programmes
• Funding of Cross-border Research by National or Regional Authorities
• Optimum Dissemination and Use of Research Findings
• Protection, Management and Sharing of Intellectual Property Rights.

Based on the result of the GPC, the Council, upon a proposal by the Commission, recommends a limited number of areas in which to implement Joint Programming in priority.

From there on, participation of Member States in each initiative is "à la carte", based on voluntary commitments leading to partnerships composed of variable groups of countries. For each initiative, participating countries will start with:

• Developing a shared vision for the area;
• Defining a Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) and SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-Bound); and
• Preparing for implementation of the SRA by analysing the options, assessing expected impacts and defining the best mix of instruments to be used.

The Commission facilitates the Joint Programming process and, if they so wish, support Member States for Joint Programming by:

• Financing support actions to their management
• Launching possible complementary measures to actions undertaken jointly by participating countries as identified in each JPI Strategic Research Agenda
• Linking the JPIs to international actions and bodies where the Commission represents the EU
• Reporting on the JPI progress to the Council and informing the European Parliament.