Other European and international programmes

COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is a funding organisation for research and innovation networks. COST Actions help connect research initiatives across Europe and beyond and enable researchers and innovators to grow their ideas in any science and technology field by sharing them with their peers. 

Since 2008 the European Commission set up several Joint Programming Initiatives, a structured and strategic process whereby Member States agree, on a voluntary basis and in a partnership approach, on common visions and Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas (SRIA) to address major societal challenges. After the development of a common vision and the launch of the SRIA common activities of each Joint Programming Initiative (JPI) can be implemented including e.g. joint calls, so-called fast track activities, knowledge hubs, task forces etc. Italy participates in JPIs through the concerned technical Ministries, coordinated by MUR.

The ERANET and ERANET PLUS actions, born in the Seventh Framework Program, are coordination and support actions aimed at promoting cooperation and coordination of research activities in a specific thematic area and improving synergy between national programs and the EU Framework Program. These actions, managed at the national and regional level in the Member States and Associated Countries, have been merged into ERANET COFUND in the Horizon 2020 program and aim to support public-public partnerships (P2P), which are forms of collaboration between public entities and the European Union to define shared activities and networking structures. Italy participates in some actions through MUR, either directly or through a controlled entity.

The actions undertaken under Article 185 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) aim to integrate parts of national programs for the joint implementation of a European research program. These actions may concern topics not directly related to the themes of the Framework Program, provided that they produce sufficient European added value. They also serve to strengthen complementarities and synergies between the Framework Program and activities carried out within other international and national initiatives. Among the initiatives of Article 185 in Horizon 2020 is the Active and Assisted Living (AAL) Joint Programme, aimed at improving the quality of life of the elderly and those who care for them, while also ensuring the sustainability of care systems.

AAL (Active and Assisted Living) was a common program supporting active and independent living, developed after the conclusion of a previous seven-year program called "Ambient Assisted Living." The general objectives of the AAL program are:

• to expand the availability of products and services based on information and communication technologies (ICT) for active and healthy aging;
• to maintain a critical mass of trans-European activities in applied research, development, and innovation in the field of ICT-based products and services for aging well, involving particularly SMEs and users;
• to stimulate private investments and improve the conditions for industrial exploitation of such technologies.

The JPI "More Years Better Lives - The Potential and Challenges of Demographic Change" is a joint programming initiative aimed at improving coordination and collaboration between European and national research programs related to demographic change. It adopts a transnational and multidisciplinary approach, bringing together different research programs and researchers from various disciplines to provide solutions for the upcoming challenges and harness the potential of societal changes in Europe.

The JPI has the participation of 17 partners from European and non-European countries, who, as per the JPIs regulations, provide funding (for Italy, it is the MUR).

The LIFE programme is the EU's funding instrument for the environment and climate actions, aimed at contributing to the implementation, updating, and development of EU environmental and climate policy and legislation through co-financing projects focused on nature conservation and environmental information and communication activities.

ENI CBC MED: European Neighborhood Instrument – Cross Border Cooperation – Mediterranean is the cross-border cooperation program in the Mediterranean neighborhood area, aimed at promoting fair, equitable, and sustainable economic, social, and territorial development, favorable to cross-border integration and enhancing the territories and values of participating countries.

The program is structured around two general objectives and two thematic objectives.

The general objectives are:

1. Promoting economic and social development

2. Addressing common challenges in the Mediterranean area

The thematic objectives include:

• Enterprises and SME development

• Support for education, research, technological development, and innovation

• Promotion of social inclusion and poverty reduction

• Environmental protection, adaptation, and mitigation of climate change

INTERREG CENTRAL EUROPE is a European Union funding program aimed at encouraging transnational cooperation beyond the borders of Central Europe to enhance regional development capacities in terms of innovation, smart skills, energy transition, resilience to climate change, circular economy, environmental protection, sustainable urban mobility, rural and peripheral transport, and governance for integrated territorial development. Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE supports partnerships formed by public and private institutions from nine countries: Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia.

The Interreg VI A Italy-Croatia 2021-2027 Cross-Border Cooperation Program funds collaborative projects in the Adriatic region and is based on five priorities:

• Sustainable growth in the Blue Economy
• Green and resilient environment
• Sustainable maritime and multimodal transport
• Culture and tourism for sustainable development
• Integrated governance for enhanced cooperation

Cross-border cooperation covers a geographical area of over 85,500 square kilometers and involves the provinces along both shores of the Adriatic.

INTERREG IPA ADRION is a European programme that acts as policy driver and governance innovator fostering European integration among Partner States, taking advantage of the rich natural, cultural and human resources surrounding the Adriatic and Ionian Seas and enhancing economic, social and territorial cohesion in the Programme area. The programme is based on four priority axes, divided into eight specific objectives:

        1. Support for a smarter Adriatic-Ionian region

            1.1 Strengthening innovation capacity

            1.2 Support for skills development

        2. Support for a greener and more climate-resilient Adriatic-Ionian region

            2.1 Enhancing resilience to climate change and natural and man-made disasters

            2.2 Support for the development of the circular economy

            2.3 Support for the safeguarding and protection of the environment

            2.4 Support for sustainable and multimodal urban mobility

        3. Support for a zero-emission and more connected Adriatic-Ionian region

            3.1 Strengthening smart and zero-emission mobility

        4. Support for governance in the Adriatic-Ionian region

INTERREG Euro-MED is a European Territorial Cooperation Programme that aims to make the Mediterranean region smarter and greener and improve the governance between its stakeholders. Interreg Euro-MED supports projects, initiatives and policies related to climate change and the environment in line with the priorities and specific objectives set out by the European Commission for the Cohesion policy. The Programme decided to embed such objectives into missions for a more comprehensive approach:

1. Strengthening an innovative sustainable economy

2. Protecting, restoring and valorising the natural environment and heritage

3. Promoting green living areas

4. Enhancing sustainable tourism

The Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) program aims to support and develop open, rights-based, democratic, fair, and inclusive societies grounded in the rule of law. This includes fostering a dynamic and autonomous civil society that encourages democratic, civic, and social participation of citizens and nurtures the rich diversity of European society based on the values, history, and memory we share.

The CERV program is structured around four pillars:

1. Equality, rights, and gender equality
2. Citizen engagement and participation
3. Daphne (prevention and combating of gender-based violence and violence against children)
4. Promotion of the values of the European Union