The European Commission, represented by Commissioner for Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva, and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) today held a debate on a Joint Action Plan (JAP) for 2026–2029, reinforcing cooperation to strengthen research and innovation across Europe’s regions and cities.
The Joint Action Plan establishes a structured framework for collaboration between the Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), the Joint Research Centre (JRC), and the CoR. It aims to reinforce the regional dimension of EU research and innovation policy, strengthen multilevel governance, improve policy coherence, and maximise the territorial impact of investment across the Union.
At its core, the Plan recognises that Europe’s innovation ambitions depend on strong local and regional ecosystems. Cities and regions are essential in transforming scientific excellence into market-ready solutions, linking research with industry and public authorities, attracting talent, and ensuring that the green and digital transitions deliver tangible results.
The JAP is structured around four key priorities:
• strengthening regional innovation ecosystems;
• supporting place-based approaches to the green and digital transitions;
• improving the dissemination and uptake of funding opportunities and results, including synergies between EU instruments; and
• enhancing evidence-based policymaking, foresight, and resilience at regional level.
Commissioner Zaharieva underlined the importance of partnership across all levels of governance: “The success of research and innovation depends on our partnership. President von der Leyen made it clear that putting research and innovation at the heart of our economic agenda is a key priority of this mandate. For this to succeed, we need strong, innovative ecosystems, first and foremost local. Whether it is a researcher on the move or a founder starting a new company, regional and local authorities are often their very first public interlocutors. You create the most immediate conditions for our scientists and our startups to emerge and to succeed. And this is why every mayor, every regional president, every regional and local councillor matters in turning policy into change for our citizens. This conviction lays at the heart of the joint action plan, the plan we signed today.”
Markku Markkula, Member of Espoo City Council, highlighted the strategic importance of the agreement for the Committee of the Regions: “This JAP is at its strongest where it turns broad EU goals into place-based transformation. It is also important that the JAP gives the CoR a stronger route to influence implementation of the European Research Area, including through participation in the ERA Forum and its relevant sub-groups.”
He outlined five key priorities for successful implementation: making local and regional innovation ecosystems Europe’s real delivery system; accelerating the shift from research to deployment through initiatives such as EU Missions and innovation valleys; strengthening territorial foresight, resilience, and evidence-based policymaking; boosting knowledge valorisation, access to research and technology infrastructures, and talent development; and ensuring multilevel governance delivers concrete implementation.
From the EPP perspective, Friso Douwstra, Regional Minister of Friesland, stressed the broader political direction: “Research and innovation must be anchored in our regions and cities if Europe wants to remain competitive, resilient and forward-looking. For the EPP, this is the right direction: more innovation, more competitiveness, stronger territorial ecosystems, and better cooperation across all levels of governance.”
Local leaders also highlighted the importance of effective implementation on the ground. Tanya Hristova, Mayor of Gabrovo, emphasised accessibility and coordination: “Thank you for signing this JAP, because it marks a very important step in recognising that research and innovation only deliver results when they reach our regions and cities. Its focus on regional ecosystems, better coordination of instruments, and linking knowledge with real deployment is exactly what we need at local and regional level — in smaller cities as well as in major metropolitan centres.”
She stressed the need to treat local authorities as full partners, simplify access to funding—especially for smaller municipalities and SMEs—and ensure better coordination between instruments to avoid administrative burdens.
Emil Boc, Mayor of Cluj-Napoca, highlighted the strategic dimension of regional innovation: “There can be no innovation in the European Union without strong regional ecosystems. And there can be no regional innovation ecosystems without a central role for regions and cities.”
He also pointed to the need to reduce innovation disparities between regions as a key condition for Europe’s competitiveness and raised the importance of artificial intelligence as a driver of future innovation.
Peter Jahr, Member of the Mittelsachsen District Council, welcomed the initiative while raising governance concerns: “Regions and cities are ready to handle financial responsibilities in a transparent and responsible way, and we must avoid any opaque arrangements that weaken trust or undermine territorial impact.”
He called for stronger recognition of local and regional authorities within EU decision-making and emphasised the need to preserve their role in future financial planning.
The Joint Action Plan marks an important step towards a more integrated, place-based European innovation policy—ensuring that cooperation between EU institutions and regional and local authorities translates into real impact for citizens, businesses, and communities across Europe.