On 19 and 20 May 2026, partners of the candidate European Partnership on Social Transformation and Resilience, now STAR, met in Krakow, Poland, for a two-day Partner Meeting hosted by the National Science Centre.

With the proposal writing phase about to start, the meeting offered an important opportunity to take stock of the work carried out so far, align on the main elements of the future Partnership and prepare the next steps.

The first day was dedicated to discussions, exchanges and shared reflections on some of the main building blocks of STAR. Partners reviewed the first version of the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA), including the process for finalising the document and the prioritisation of future call topics. They also discussed the STAR Roadmap and had an in-depth exchange on Work Packages 4 and 5, covering data re-use and links with research infrastructures, as well as the uptake of research results and cooperation with stakeholders. The day also included a dedicated session on R&I funding and call organisation, covering application and evaluation procedures, general requirements and eligibility rules, proposal monitoring and the management of conflicts of interest.

On the second day, partners discussed the budget framework, the proposed governance structure and the role of National Mirror Groups, with a view to ensuring clear coordination mechanisms and effective links between the European Partnership and national communities. Communication was also high on the agenda of Day 2. Partners exchanged on the future communication approach of STAR, including the website, visual identity and communication channels. During the session, partners also voted on the STAR logo, which has now been adopted and will support the Partnership’s common identity in the next stages.

The Krakow meeting marked a concrete step forward in the preparation of STAR. By bringing partners together ahead of the writing phase, it helped consolidate a shared basis for the work to come and for the development of a strong European Partnership on Social Transformation and Resilience.