Sign up for The Insider

INESC Response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence for the Single Basic Act for European Partnerships

Policy Paper

A summary report capturing the key discussions, findings and follow-up actions from the INESC Brussels HUB’s 2026 Summer Meeting on European research infrastructure priorities.

Executive summary

In its response to the European Commission’s Call for Evidence , INESC Brussels HUB, on behalf of the INESC group, welcomes the creation of a Single Basic Act (SBA) for Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe 2028–2034 as a way to bring legal certainty, harmonised rules and cross-sector synergies. INESC institutes stress that the reform should strengthen, not narrow, the role of research-performing organisations, which provide the scientific and technological base the partnerships depend on. As an operator of research and technology infrastructures across critical technologies, INESC calls for Joint Undertakings organised around technology communities rather than ECF policy windows, and opposes a fixed minimum Union contribution threshold. It sets out three asks: keep coverage across TRLs, fully recognise in-kind contributions, and make sure uneven national co-funding does not become a barrier to participation.

Key takeaways

  • INESC institutes support the Single Basic Act as a way to bring legal certainty, harmonised rules and a more coherent partnership portfolio to future Joint Undertakings.
  • Joint Undertakings should be built around coherent technology communities with clear missions, not strictly around ECF policy windows, because critical enabling technologies cut across sectors.
  • No fixed minimum Union contribution threshold, such as the €2 billion in the European Parliament's draft, should condition the creation of Joint Undertakings, as it would push out focused, critical-technology partnerships.
  • The SBA should protect mid-TRL activities and fully recognise in-kind contributions (infrastructure access, testing services and researcher time), valued with existing Horizon Europe costing methods.
  • Joint Undertakings must stay open to research organisations from all Member States, with transparency on national commitments and mechanisms to stop co-funding gaps from becoming barriers to participation.

Authors & download

Authors: INESC Brussels HUB policy team
Download PDF

Last reviewed / validation

17/08/2026