This live blog is tracking the latest developments in European research and innovation programmes, including the broader debate on the future of R&D policy and funding in the next multiannual budget due to start in 2028. Beyond that, we look at other EU policies with significant research and innovation components in climate, digital, agriculture and regional development. In addition, national governments often come up with new R&D policies, decide to fund new research avenues, and set up international cooperation deals. This blog aims to keep you informed on all of that and more.
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Science Europe, which represents 40 research funders and organisations, is calling to secure under the next iteration of Horizon Europe the long-term future of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), an initiative of the European Commission providing scientists with trusted, open-access data and services.
“The transition to [the next Horizon Europe] offers an important opportunity to consolidate EOSC as a lasting pillar of the [European Research Area],” Science Europe says, adding that it supports its continuation as a work programme-based European Partnership.
More details here.
The board of the European University Association (EUA) is calling for a “meaningful dialogue” between universities in Serbia and the government “to de-escalate and, ultimately, resolve the current unsustainable situation” as student mobilisation against corruption continues.
“The continued erosion of institutional autonomy, which is a precondition for universities to fulfil their diverse missions, will have a damaging impact on academic life and wider society in the short- and long-term,” it says.
More details here.
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions-funded COFUND scheme has received 141 proposals, of which around 30 will be funded with an indicative budget of €105.5 million.
This is higher than in the 2025 call, which had received 136 proposals.
More details here.
In response to the draft reports of the main rapporteurs for the next Framework Programme in the European Parliament, EURASHE, a European association of applied universities, expressed concerns over the proposed creation of councils for collaborative research, which could be costly.
“It adds an extra cost and administrative structure to be funded by the EU budget,” EURASHE says. “There may be more cost-effective solutions that avoid the risk of incumbency bias in the R&I system, including greater use of experts from the Commission’s in house science service, the Joint Research Centre.”
More details here.
The European Commission has opened the 2026 call for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships, which has a budget of €399.05 million.
The fellowships support researchers holding a PhD to carry out their research activities abroad and acquire new skills in different disciplines and sectors. The call is part of the €1.25 billion set aside for the MSCA in 2026.
“To researchers around the world, our message is clear,” said Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. “Bring your ambition, bring your talent. Europe is your place to innovate and to thrive.”
Applications close on 9 September 2026. More information here.
The EU and Morocco have lunched a ‘Digital Dialogue’ to strengthen cooperation in areas such as AI, support for digital start-ups and secure digital infrastructure.
The agreement will establish cooperation between Moroccan AI research institutes and EU AI Factories, including by facilitating cooperation on research and innovation projects.
Other focus areas include supporting the deployment of AI compute infrastructures.
“The Digital Dialogue will focus on bringing concrete benefits for companies, startups, research institutions and other stakeholders on both sides,” said Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty.
Read more here.
The European Commission has announced a €30 million investment to support the development of new antibiotics and medical countermeasures to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The funding will be managed by KfW, Germany's Development Bank, and will support not-for-profit organisations Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) and the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership (GARDP) to accelerate early-stage antibacterial research and to advance late-stage clinical development projects.
The Commission also signed a €20 million contribution agreement with the Agence Française de Développement to implement activities by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, supporting the development of dengue medical treatments.
Meanwhile, the Commission intends to pledge €700 million to the Global Fund to defeat HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
Full details here.
The EU TalentOn contest for European early-career researchers aged 21-35 has opened for applications.
100 researchers from across Europe will be selected to travel to Brest between September 7-11 to work with their team on an innovative solution responding to a global challenge in one of the areas of the EU Missions: adaptation to climate change, cancer prevention, ocean and water restoration, smart cities and transition towards healthy soils.
A total of €80,000 of prize money will be divided into several prizes, including the main €12,000 Grand Jury prize.
Researchers can apply for the contest, which is organised un the ‘Science Comes to town’ EU initiative, by answering a questionnaire by April 30.
See more details here.
The €175-billion budget put forward by the European Commission for the next iteration of Horizon Europe is “a strict minimum,” according to EIROforum, an alliance of nine intergovernmental research organisations.
In addition to a standalone programme with a strong budget, EIROforum emphasises the need to foster scientific excellence and frontier research, invest in research infrastructures, and provide a clear governance and complementarity between the Framework Programme and the Competitiveness Fund.
More details here.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) said that it was closely monitoring the situation concerning EIT Manufacturing, which filed for liquidation on March 25 after going bankrupt following a months of fallout from an investigation by the EU’s anti-fraud office.
“We are particularly mindful of the impact of the current situation on start-ups and other beneficiaries of EIT Manufacturing ASBL. We are following developments closely with a view to facilitating the settlement of claims towards EIT Manufacturing ASBL for beneficiaries not affected by the irregularities,” the EIT says.
More details here.
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