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 Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD) is calling for the EU to substantially increase its investments in defence and security as part of the next long-term budget, in a new position paper.
The paper calls for sector-specific investment envelopes of €100 billion for defence, €50 billion for security, €40-60 billion for space, and €23.5 billion for civil aviation.
The next EU budget should consolidate all security-related instruments, including the current civil security research cluster in Horizon Europe, into a single Securing Europe Facility, to ensure consistency and provide better links between research and deployment, ASD says.
Meanwhile, it recommends a budget of €6 billion for civil aviation, €1.5 billion for deploying digital air traffic management technologies under the Single European Sky initiative, and €5-6 billion for sustainable aviation fuels. Meanwhile, it says 20-25% of support from the Innovation Fund should go towards civil aviation.
The Commission’s proposal for the next EU research framework programme, set to be unveiled on July 16, does not pose major threats to research, said Romanian MEP Siegfried Mureşan, European Parliament’s co-rapporteur for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).
Speaking alongside co-rapporteur Carla Tavares at a press conference on the Parliament’s budget priorities, Mureşan said legislators should focus on more pressing issues in agriculture and cohesion policy. “We think that for research, given that the Commission has confirmed [FP10] will be a separate programme, the dangers are not fundamental,” he told Science|Business.
“Still, of course, we as a Parliament we'll have to make sure throughout the negotiation process that the research programme will be properly designed,” he added.
As for the funding’s size of FP10, Mureşan said specific figures would only be discussed after reviewing the Commission’s proposal and consulting with researchers and experts.
Watch the Parliament’s press conference here.
A network of six leading European research organisations has called for the EU to adopt an ambitious strategy for AI in science, including support for open infrastructures, talent and international collaboration.
“In order to ensure the effective application of AI across scientific domains to boost scientific competitiveness, the EU must also ensure that it remains at the forefront of AI development itself,” reads the statement from the so-called 6G, which comprises Italy’s CNR, France’s CNRS, Spain’s CSIC, and Germany’s Helmholtz Association, Leibniz Association and Max Planck Society.
The European Commission is due to adopt its AI in science strategy in the second half of the year. This should include significantly increasing funding for fundamental research disciplines that underpin innovation in AI, such as mathematics and computer science, says the G6 statement.
They also call for a mobility scheme to address disparities in expertise across regions and for EU-wide AI research standards, including standardised tools for assessing the environmental impact of AI projects.
EU member states have agreed their position on the 2026 Horizon Europe budget, which would cut €211 million from the European Commission’s initial proposal.
This would bring the programme’s overall annual budget to €12.8 billion, identical to 2025. The Commission had proposed a €211 million increase.
The Council is also proposing to cut the 2026 budget for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, the international nuclear fusion research project, by €153 million, and the Euratom Research and Training Programme by almost €4 million.
More details are available here.
The European Commission has launched a call for evidence, inviting all interested stakeholders to contribute to the future European Innovation Act.
As part of the EU Startup and Scaleup strategy, the AI legislation aims to incentivise bringing innovative ideas to the market.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU commissioner for startups, research and innovation, said “we want to hear from innovators, businesses, investors, policymakers, researchers, universities, and all interested parties to build an ambitious and effective innovation framework that will delivers real results.”
The call will remain open until September 30, 2025.
More details can be found here.
The European Commission and Jordan have signed the renewed Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA) .
Jordan will contribute €4.5 million to the partnership between 2025-2027, which will reinforce collaboration in priority areas, such as climate resilience, sustainable food systems, inclusive economic development
Jordan is the first partner country to formalise participation in PRIMA for the upcoming period.
“This renewed agreement is not just about research, it’s about shared ambition, regional stability, and a future shaped by cooperation and innovation,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU commissioner for startups, research and innovation.
Read the press release here
The European Commission has announced that its Innovation Fund will give a total of €852 million in grants to six pioneering electric vehicle battery cell manufacturing projects.
The grants follow a first battery call from December 2024, aimed at accelerating the growth of and investment in the EU’s battery manufacturing industry.
Projects selected will support Europe’s transition to a clean, competitive and resilient industrial base, they include:
- ACCEPT, France
- AGATHE, France
- CF3_at_scale, Germany
- NOVO one, Sweden
- WGF2G, Germany
- 46inEU, Poland
Over the first 10 years of operation, they are projected to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by approximately 91 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
“The €852 million investment in European EV battery cell manufacturing delivers on our goals to increase competitiveness and support pioneering decarbonisation technologies,” said Wopke Hoestra, EU commissioner for climate and clean growth.
Read the full press release here
The European Commission has adopted a delegated act under the Digital Services Act (DSA) that enables researchers to gain access to the internal data of very large online platforms (VLOPs) and search engines (VLOSEs) on systemic risks.
Alongside the delegated act, the EU executive intends to launch the DSA data access portal to help interested researchers navigate the new mechanism. To obtain access to the relevant datasets, the researchers will need to submit a data access application and be vetted by a Digital Services Coordinator.
The European Parliament and Council of the EU have three months to review the Commission’s proposal, after which period the new rules will enter into force.
More details here.
The European Commission has announced a new strategy aimed at making the EU a global leader in life sciences by 2030.
The Commission estimates life sciences add almost €1 trillion in value to the EU economy and support 29 million jobs across all 27 member states.
The Commission will be putting up €10 billion every year for the following actions:
Around €250 million will be mobilised under the Horizon 2026-2027 work programme to support development of new products and methods.
Enabling rapid market access for life science innovations through a new EU biotech
€300 will be mobilised to support procurement of life science innovations in certain areas. A life science coordination group will be set up to align policies and funding across sectors.
“Our new strategy is a commitment to placing Europe at the forefront of life sciences innovation that delivers cutting-edge therapies quicker to European patients,” said Olivér Várhelyi, EU commissioner for health.
Read the full strategy here.
Climeworks, the Swiss carbon removal pioneer, has raised a further $162 million to scale up its direct air capture technology.
Overall, the company has surpassed $1 billion in funding, with the lates round marking the largest carbon removal investment round of 2025.
The main investors of this final round were BigPoint Holding and Partners Group, with additional backing from preexisting investors.
According to analysts, the carbon removal market is expected to reach $80 billion by 2030, before growing to $1 trillion by 2050.
Christoph Gebald, co-CEO and co-founder of Climeworks says “Crossing the $1 billion equity mark isn’t just a milestone - it shows that carbon removal is real, needed, and here to stay.”
Read the full statement here.
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