EU backs new partnerships in materials, textiles, and solar tech

Green Forum
The European Commission has taken a key step in advancing Europe's technological leadership and sustainability goals by creating three new European Partnerships on advanced materials, textiles, and photovoltaics.

Established under Horizon Europe, these partnerships will drive growth, sustainability and resilience, contributing to a strong, inclusive and globally competitive Europe.

Identified as essential in the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027, the three partnerships are:

  • European Partnership for Innovation in Photovoltaics: It will strengthen Europe's position in the global photovoltaics (PV) industry, supporting the transition to renewable energy, particularly to solar power, as outlined in the European Green Deal, the REPowerEU Plan and the 2023 Renewable Energy Directive. It will scale up the European PV manufacturing capacity, develop a more resilient value chain in the EU and reduce dependency on fossil fuels through collaboration across the entire PV value chain. The Commission and the private partners plan to invest up to €240 million each from 2025 to 2030 in the partnership.
  • European Partnership for Textiles of the Future: It will drive the transformation of the textile industry towards sustainability and circularity, aligning with the EU Strategy for Sustainable and Circular Textiles. The initiative will leverage digital innovations and new business models within the sector and enhance Europe's strategic autonomy. At the same time, it will help to keep the industry competitive, resilient, and sustainable in a rapidly changing global market. The Commission and the private partners plan to invest up to €30 million each from 2025 to 2030 in this partnership.
  • European Partnership for Innovative Advanced Materials for the EU: In line with the Communication on Advanced Materials for Industrial Leadership, it will strengthen technology sovereignty and industrial competitiveness in advanced materials. The partnership will respond to industrial needs and accelerate design, development and industrial uptake of safe and sustainable advanced materials and associated technologies fit for the circular economy. The Commission and the private partners plan to invest up to €250 million each by 2030 in this partnership.
RECOMMENDED
EU allocates €4.8 billion to net-zero innovation
Environment

EU allocates €4.8 billion to net-zero innovation

The European Commission has selected 85 innovative net-zero projects to receive €4.8 billion in grants from the Innovation Fund, helping to put cutting-edge clean technologies into action across Europe.

RECOMMENDED FROM THE HOME PAGE
Microsoft hits 100% renewable energy target five years early
Energy

Microsoft hits 100% renewable energy target five years early

Microsoft has achieved its goal of matching 100% of its annual global electricity consumption with renewable energy, reaching the milestone five years ahead of its 2025 target. The achievement supports the company's commitment to become carbon negative by 2030.

Real estate

How is EU real estate navigating the CSRD changes? Take our survey

The recent weakening of the CSRD may have some real estate developers cheering the compliance rollbacks, but the consequences could be complicated. A new research survey examines how EU real estate firms are navigating changes to the CSRD, and what that could mean for upcoming SFDR revisions.

Energy

Waldevar Energy builds utility-scale PV parks in Romania

Waldevar Energy has begun construction on two utility-scale photovoltaic parks for Doral Energy in Tudor Vladimirescu (Brăila County) and Ștefan Vodă (Călărași County), Romania. The projects will deliver 14 MWp of installed capacity using around 25,000 photovoltaic panels.

Industry

Lidl Romania exceeds 2030 sustainability targets early

Lidl Romania has published its eighth sustainability report for the 2024 financial year, announcing accelerated progress in reducing environmental impact. The retailer has achieved its international 2030 target for transitioning to natural refrigerants, with these now used in 100% of logistics centres and 81.7% of stores, compared to the original goal of 100% of logistics centres and 40% of stores. The company has also increased its green energy usage to 80% of total consumption.

READ MORE
Green Forum  |  19 February, 2026 at 10:24 AM
Green Forum  |  5 February, 2026 at 11:47 PM