ETN Global contributes to the EC’s call for evidence on future Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe

ETN Global has submitted its input to the European Commission’s (EC’s) Call for Evidence on Horizon Europe – European Partnerships to be implemented as Joint Undertakings, helping to shape the future EU research and innovation framework for the 2028-2034 period. The consultation forms part of the EC’s efforts to strengthen the impact of European Partnerships and better align them with Europe’s competitiveness, decarbonisation and industrial objectives.

In our response, we advocate for a future Joint Undertaking framework that recognises the strategic importance of fuel-flexible gas turbines, clean and carbon-neutral fuel combustion technologies, and dispatchable clean power solutions in delivering a resilient and climate-neutral European energy system. The contribution highlights the need to accelerate industrial deployment of these technologies while maintaining Europe’s global leadership in advanced gas turbine engineering and manufacturing.

 

ETN Global’s recommendations are built around five key pillars:

1. Strategic autonomy and energy security

Fuel-flexible gas turbines are an essential part of Europe’s energy system and will continue to play a key role in balancing increasing shares of renewable energy. Preserving Europe’s gas turbine manufacturing capabilities is therefore critical for both energy resilience and industrial sovereignty.

2. Broadening the scope to carbon-neutral fuels and fuel flexibility

ETN Global calls for future Joint Undertakings to broaden their scope beyond hydrogen production and electrochemical technologies to include carbon-neutral fuel conversion and utilisation technologies (such as hydrogen, ammonia and methanol), recognising the intrinsic fuel flexibility of gas turbine technologies.

3. Bridging the commercial gap from pilots to market introduction

ETN Global therefore recommends increased support for high-TRL demonstration projects and longer-term operational testing programmes in order to scale these technologies up for industrial development.

4. Operational efficiency and governance reform

The proposed consolidation of Joint Undertakings under a Single Basic Act presents an opportunity to streamline governance and reduce administrative burdens. ETN Global supports efforts to improve operational efficiency but stresses that dedicated programming and budget visibility for gas turbine power generation technologies must be safeguarded.

5. European competitiveness and industrial leadership

Europe remains a global leader in advanced gas turbine engineering, power generation technologies and district heating integration. Future Joint Undertakings should support the retention and expansion of these strategic capabilities, helping Europe translate technological know-how into manufacturing leadership, resilient supply chains and highly skilled jobs while preserving affordability and security of supply.

As discussions on the 2028-2034 Horizon Europe framework continue, ETN Global remains committed to ensuring that the voice of the turbomachinery sector is represented in European research and innovation policy, helping to deliver a competitive, resilient and climate-neutral energy future for Europe.

Read the full ETN Global’s policy input here.