How can European Partnerships realise their full potential under Horizon Europe 2028–2034? They bring together businesses, research organisations and public stakeholders around shared research and innovation agendas. The BDI sets out recommendations for their future development: give businesses a stronger role in shaping strategic priorities, ensure legal certainty and systematically reduce reporting requirements. Industry’s in-kind contributions must be fully recognised; the BDI opposes mandatory cash contributions. The evolution of the partnership portfolio should be guided by technological, economic and societal value, rather than simply reducing the number of partnerships. Successful innovation networks must be preserved, and priorities aligned with Germany’s High-Tech Agenda and German and European economic strategies.