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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The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has awarded €63 million to projects looking at the role of higher education in closing the EU’s innovation and talent gap.
The funding, which is awarded under the EIT Higher Education Initiative, will go to 620 organisations working on 47 cross-sector projects, 12 of which focus on deep tech.
“The results of this call for proposals are a show of confidence in Europe’s innovation capacity. These are the investments that keep Europe strong and competitive,” Roxana Mînzatu, executive vice-president for social rights and skills, quality jobs and preparedness, said in a statement.
Read the full statement here.
The European Commission has allocated an additional €10 million for MSCA4Ukraine, an initiative funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) to support displaced researchers from Ukraine.
So far, the scheme has supported 173 of them with a budget of €35 million. With this new funding, an organisation or a consortium will be able to select and offer doctoral and postdoctoral researchers from Ukraine to pursue their work in the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe.
The call to Ukrainian researchers is expected to open in the first half of 2026.
Read the full statement here.
Poland has launched its first national Cancer Mission hub under the EU Cancer Mission, which is set to boost collaborative initiatives on cancer.
Joanna Drake, deputy director-general of the European Commission for research and innovation, said: “The burden of cancer is spread unequally in Europe. In Poland, for example, cancer mortality rates are higher than the EU average.”
Since 2014, the EU has allocated more than €3.5 billion to cancer research projects.
Read the full statement here.
The EU and Egypt have agreed to extend their partnership for research and innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) for the 2025-27 period.
The deal ensures that Egypt will continue to participate in collaborative projects as part of PRIMA, which addresses challenges such as water scarcity and food security.
Egypt is expected to soon associate to Horizon Europe.
Read the full statement here.
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