The study of next-generation high-energy accelerators based on 16 T dipoles has emphasized the need for higher performance, cost-effective Nb₃Sn superconducting wires. A Conductor Development Program aiming to reach a non-copper critical current density (Jc) of 1500 A/mm² at 16 T and 4.2 K has been launched by CERN, with the involvement of industry and laboratories worldwide. In this paper, the targets and strategy of the program are presented, with an overview of the wire layouts and development activities being pursued by each partner, and the latest characterization results are reported. Three of the four participating manufacturers have successfully reached the first-stage Jc milestone, but a significant advance is still needed to achieve the final target. The next steps are briefly discussed, as the program focuses increasingly on novel alloys and methods to maximize Jc.