Rare diseases are a major challenge that requires integrated and collaborative efforts from a wide range of stakeholders. To take rare disease collaborative research in Europe to the next level and support achievement of the IRDiRC 2027 goals, the European Commission has approved the European Joint Programme on Rare Diseases (EJP-RD), an EU-wide and patient-centred initiative to foster rare disease research from bench to bedside and back. The programme, due to launch in January 2019, will receive 55 million EUR over 5 years to establish a comprehensive strategy covering funding, research, data, training, tools and clinical aspects to increase the efficiency of results use, diagnosis, drug discovery, patient care and to empowering all stakeholders.