The 7-year framework agreement defines the objectives and impact of GÉANT projects included in the European Union's research and innovation funding program – Horizon Europe.
The outlines of the agreement signed between GÉANT and the European Commission had already been approved in October 2021. Three months later, the two parties have now formalized the “GN5 Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA)”, detailing the general direction, objectives and impact of individual projects within Horizon Europe.
From now on, project applications for funding can be formalized. According to GÉANT CEO Erik Huizer, the signing of this agreement illustrates "the level of trust between the European Commission and the GÉANT consortium"—a relationship that has been built over 20 years.
GÉANT sees the agreement as a way to ensure the necessary stability and visibility for long-term project planning and development. "This is excellent news for GÉANT, its national research and education networks (NRENs), and also for the communities they support," concluded Erik Huizer.
It should be noted that the GÉANT network is an extension of the national research and education networks that, like the FCCN Unit, are linked to it. By interconnecting the European NRENs, GÉANT plays a pivotal role as accelerator in European research and is an exponential driver of knowledge sharing.
