JRC Highlights Report 2024

Foreword by Ekaterina Zaharieva

Let me introduce you to the EU’s scientific powerhouse! The Joint Research Centre blends technical expertise, data-based insights and excellent research to drive effective policymaking and innovation. I am overseeing the JRC’s work as part of my portfolio and it is my great pleasure to share with you 11 of the most significant contributions made by the JRC in 2024.   

The 11 highlights illustrate how the JRC drives meaningful change across a wide range of policy areas. The variety of the quotes that accompany each highlight are an affirmation of the JRC’s positive impact on citizens, the economy and society at large.

The JRC works at the intersection of science and policy. Several of the achievements in this report demonstrate how vital the JRC is in supporting EU institutions throughout the full policy cycle. Be it in the nuclear or the non-nuclear domains, the JRC successfully anticipates the policy needs, integrates the various perspectives and supports policymakers on the technical implementation and monitoring of progress. 

I am sure that you will find the examples of JRC innovation in this report as fascinating as I do, from life-saving cancer treatments using nuclear-targeted alpha therapy to an early alert mechanism fuelling the clean industrial transformation. The JRC helps us innovate and test the performance and safety of new technologies that can drive progress across industries, economies and societies. It opens the door to new solutions and pushes the boundaries of scientific research and human endeavour. 

From tackling global challenges to supporting better policymaking, these highlights are proof that the JRC is powering the solutions of tomorrow. As we look ahead, I am confident that the JRC will continue to be a cornerstone of EU policymaking and innovation. In the face of unprecedented global challenges, science must drive the policies that will define our future. 

Introduction by Bernard Magenhann

2024 was a momentous year of change for the JRC.  In addition to being my first year as Acting Director-General, 2024 was also a year of prioritisation for the JRC. To support this prioritisation, we engaged in strategic discussions with key partners and reflected collectively on our future path. As a result, the scientific activities outlined in the 2025-2027 Work Programme are aligned with and ready to deliver on the political priorities of the new European Commission mandate.    

It has been a great pleasure for me to help the JRC navigate these changes and to welcome Commissioner Zaharieva in her new role overseeing the JRC under her portfolio Startups, Research and Innovation. The Highlights Report is an opportunity to celebrate some of the JRC’s key achievements for 2024 and to provide a snapshot into some of its recent work. 

Welcome to the JRC’s 2024 Highlights Report!

The 11 achievements highlighted in this report reflect the breadth and the depth of the JRC’s work. From digital transformation to environmental sustainability or health crises, the JRC provides the foundations for EU policymaking, utilising its cutting-edge research and rigorous expertise to tackle some of the most complex challenges of our time. Its multidisciplinary teams and plethora of excellent laboratories allow the JRC to approach problems from multiple perspectives, ensuring more comprehensive and effective outcomes. This report illustrates how the JRC transforms its scientific excellence into real-life impacts for society and the economy at large – and this is something that fills me with pride. 

Collaboration is one of the JRC’s core values and it also shines brightly in this report. Internally, the JRC’s multi-site structure, spanning five countries, facilitates collaboration among researchers and scientists from diverse backgrounds across Europe.  But this report also demonstrates the openness and strong links that the JRC enjoys externally with a web of connections throughout society.

It is impressive to see the variety of our stakeholders reflected through those who provided quotes for each of the 11 highlights – they include citizen representatives, national institutes, industry associations and government officials, from different EU countries and beyond. This vibrant ecosystem of partnerships is a hallmark of the JRC’s work, ensuring an exchange of knowledge between disciplines and across borders, for the benefit of society. This Highlights Report is the chance to put the spotlight on some of these joint achievements, and for me to personally thank each and every one of these individuals for the impactful collaboration. 

I also take this opportunity to thank the Board of Governors for their valuable strategic oversight and guidance. It is thanks to them that the JRC can achieve its goals and fulfil its mission effectively and responsibly. 

The JRC’s role in advancing scientific knowledge and fostering collaboration across borders to deliver effective policymaking is more critical now than ever. I encourage you to explore some of the JRC’s work in this report and hope that you feel as inspired as I do about the immense potential of science-driven solutions to address tomorrow’s challenges. 

The JRC highlights

The JRC Highlights Report 2024 focuses on the impact of key JRC contributions in 2024 and celebrates these achievements with external stakeholders directly involved. It shines the spotlight on 11 highlights, as well as providing key facts and figures for the organisation. This Highlights Report stands an invitation to encourage the reader to learn more about the rest of the JRC’s work.