ERA-NET: Establishing synergies between the Joint Programming on Neurodegenerative Diseases Research and Horizon 2020

Topic description

Scope:

Specific challenge: The EU Joint Programming Initiative on Neurodegenerative Diseases Research, in particular Alzheimer's (JPND), was established in 2009 as the pilot of the Member State-led Joint Programming Initiatives and enables the participating EU Member States to work together on the challenge of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. JPND allows the establishment, alignment and building on of national research programmes to increase the effectiveness and impact of research efforts.

The JPND Research Strategy must now be scaled-up and synergies must be established with Horizon 2020 as was also called for by the Council in its conclusions of 8 December 2011[1]. The scope of the Research Strategy requires coordinated action not only amongst the participating countries but also with the EC for producing the necessary critical mass. Moreover, for achieving the highest impact possible, there is the need for less fragmentation, better coordination and alignment amongst the countries participating in the JPND.

Scope: Proposals should coordinate national and regional programmes for research in the area of neurodegenerative diseases research by implementing a transnational call with EU co-funding resulting in grants to third parties, with a view to scale-up the implementation of the JPND Research Strategy. This call shall be defined as follows: ‘Identification of genetic, epigenetic and environmental risk and protective factors for neurodegenerative diseases’, and/or of the ‘Longitudinal cohorts in neurodegenerative disease research’ and/or of the ‘Advanced experimental models of neurodegenerative diseases’.

Proposals should also promote the strategic alignment of research activities related to neurodegenerative diseases across Europe, such as developing and aligning national research plans and strategies, making data bases more accessible and interoperable, harmonisation of measurements and methodologies, networking of already existing structures and studies, training etc.

Proposals should demonstrate the expected impact on national and transnational programmes as well as the leverage effect on European research and competitiveness, and should plan the development of key indicators for supporting this.

Proposal should implement other joint activities including training and additional joint calls without EU co-funding.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of a minimum of EUR 5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

Expected impact:

• Funding of research proposals on a topic identified by the JPND implementation plan or by their action groups, which needs to be addressed at European level and which is complementary to topics of the EC work programmes;
• Leverage transnational excellent research with EU-added value in the area of neurodegenerative diseases;
• Increased commitment of participating countries to the implementation of the JPND SRA;
• Establishment and alignment of national and regional plans and initiatives on neurodegenerative diseases;
• Strengthened exchange and better interoperability between existing European infrastructures and data bases;
• Enhancement and/or better exploitation of national or EC-supported activities.

Type of action: ERA-NET Co-fund

ERA-NET