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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You can read the full archive of this blog here.
Maintaining a standalone Framework Programme is critical for associated countries to continue contributing to EU research and innovation and “the shared goals of economic growth and competitiveness,” according to UK’s Russell Group, U15 Canada and swissuniversities.
“Setting out a clear path to FP10 association ahead of time will enable partner countries like ours to make an informed, early decision about signing up – ensuring our universities would be ready to contribute to the new R&D work programmes from day one,” the leaders of the three groups said in a statement.
Read the full statement here.
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) has opened the 2025 call for doctoral networks with plans to fund more than 150 projects, and train over 2,000 doctoral candidates to boost their employability in the long-term.
The call, which has a budget of €597.8 million, will close on November 25.
More details here.
The Brazilian National Council of State Funding Agencies has opened a call to co-fund projects that involve Brazilian entities funded through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges.
The scheme, which promotes to mobility of researchers, will enable Brazilian organisations to carry out joint research and innovation projects with European and international partners and to strengthen ties between Brazil and Europe.
The 2025 call for MSCA Staff Exchanges will close on October 8.
More details here.
The Research Council of Finland (RCF) will support the recruitment of foreign researchers in Finnish universities with €50 million between 2026 and 2030 in efforts to strengthen the country’s leadership in research and innovation.
“The RCF’s initiative was one of the first funding calls of its kind in Europe, and the amount of funding on offer is considerable compared to similar schemes,” the RCF says in a statement.
The first stage of the call closed on May 22. The second stage will open on October 29, and the funding decisions will be made in January and June 2026.
In the meantime, Finland hopes to unlock more private investments for overall research and development spending to reach 4% of its GDP by 2030.
The Estonian Research Council has opened a new call to fund projects that have been awarded the Seal of Excellence under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) postdoctoral fellowships calls.
The proposals have been evaluated by the European Commission with a score of at least 85% but failed to be funded due to budget constraints, the statement reads.
This new call is carried out under the Mobilitas 3.0 programme, with a budget per incoming postdoctoral project of €76,000 per year.
Read the full statement here.
Research universities demand more clarity on the future of the Framework Programme for research and innovation, after European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that FP10 will be “self-standing” but “tightly connected” to the proposed European Competitiveness Fund, without providing much detail on what that would entail.
After months of uncertainty, some research lobbies see von der Leyen’s speech at the annual budget conference encouraging, but many questions remain unanswered as the EU’s next long-term budget has not been decided yet.
“Europe’s R&I community is grateful and partly reassured – for now,” Kurt Deketelaere, secretary general of the League of European Research Universities (LERU), said in a statement. “However, we will apparently only know more when the European Commission publishes its proposal for the next Multiannual Financial Framework.”
“FP10 must be built on excellence, with a predictable, ring-fenced budget,” said Jan Palmowski, secretary general of The Guild.
Read the full statement here.
The European Commission has renewed the group of scientific advisers with professors and researchers in fields ranging from cell biology to social and behavioural sciences to environmental health.
“The Advisors aim to deliver high-quality, timely and independent scientific advice to the college of European Commissioners on any specific policy issue, including on those that the European Parliament and the Council consider to be of major importance,” the statement reads.
Read the full statement here.
European commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva has presented a snapshot of over 60 funding and support schemes designed to help researchers pursue their career in Europe.
“We are bringing everything together in one place so that international researchers can become active players on team Europe,” Zaharieva said in a statement.
Read the full statement here.
The European University Association (EUA) is welcoming the political agreement that the Competitiveness Council has reached for the new European research Area (ERA) policy agenda for 2025-27.
“As a long-standing advocate for a strong and inclusive ERA, EUA particularly values the continued commitment to a collaborative and co-creative approach,” the EUA said in a statement, as it underlined the importance of engaging stakeholders as “active contributors,” and not just “observers.”
The organisation also emphasised the need for “sustainable and predictable funding at both national and European levels” to ensure that research stakeholders, including universities, can plan on the long term.
The EUA finally called on “timely clarification” for the next steps of the process.
Read the full statement here.
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.
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