Strategic Plan
Article 6
1. Under Article 6(6) of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, the implementation of the Specific Programme shall be facilitated by a multiannual Strategic Plan of R&I activities, also promoting consistency between the work programmes, EU priorities and national priorities. The result of the strategic planning shall be set out in a multiannual Strategic Plan, for preparing the content in the work programmes, as referred to in Article 13 of this Decision. The Strategic Plan shall cover a maximum period of four years, while retaining sufficient flexibility so that the Union can respond rapidly to new and emerging challenges, unexpected opportunities and crises. 2. The strategic planning shall focus in particular on the pillar 'Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness' and cover also relevant activities in other pillars and in the part 'Widening Participation and Strengthening the ERA'. The Commission shall ensure early involvement and extensive exchanges with the Member States, and extensive exchanges with the European Parliament. The Commission shall also ensure that this is complemented by consultation with stakeholders and the general public. That will contribute to a stronger engagement with citizens and civil society. Member States may also support the strategic planning by providing an overview of national consultations and citizens' contributions that feed into the Strategic Plan. 3. The Commission shall adopt the Strategic Plan by means of an implementing act in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in Article 14(4). That Strategic Plan shall correspond to the objectives and activities described in Annex I. That implementing act shall contain the following elements, relating to the period covered: (a) key strategic orientations for R&I support, including a description of expected impacts, cross-cluster issues and intervention areas covered; (b) identification of European Partnerships according to points (a) and (b) of Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/695; (c) identification of missions according to Article 7 of this Decision and Article 8 and Annex VI of Regulation (EU) 2021/695; (d) areas for international cooperation, actions to be aligned with R&I activities of other nations and regions of the world at major scale, or actions to be carried out in cooperation with organisations in third countries; (e) specific issues, such as: the balance between research and innovation; the integration of SSH; the role of key enabling technologies and strategic value chains; gender equality, including the integration of gender dimension in the R&I content; adherence to the highest ethics and integrity standards, and priorities for dissemination and exploitation. 4. The Strategic Plan shall take into account an analysis, conducted by the Commission, covering at least the following elements: (a) political, socio-economic and environmental drivers which are relevant for the Union and Member States' policy priorities; (b) the contribution of R&I to the realisation of Union policy objectives, while capitalising on studies, other scientific evidence and relevant initiatives at Union and national level, including Institutionalised European Partnerships according to point (c) of Article 10(1) of Regulation (EU) 2021/695; (c) evidence resulting from foresight activities, science and technology indicators, innovation indicators, international developments such as the implementation of the SDGs and feedback from implementation, including monitoring the implementation of specific measures with regard to widening participation and spreading excellence and participation of SMEs; (d) priorities with the potential to be implemented in synergy with other Union programmes; (e) a description of the various approaches for stakeholder consultation and citizen engagement as part of the work to develop work programmes; (f) complementarity and synergies with planning of the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 294/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council ( 14 ) . 5. The strategic planning shall be complemented by a strategic coordinating process for European Partnerships, with the participation of Member States and the Commission on an equal footing. It shall function as an entry point for foresight analysis, analysis and advice on the portfolio development, possible setup, implementation, monitoring and phasing out of R&I partnerships and be guided by a comprehensive criteria framework, based on Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2021/695.