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 Commission and Singapore have announced a plan to boost cooperation in critical digital technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, semiconductors and quantum computing.
More details here.
The EU and the Republic of Korea are to pursue joint research and innovation projects on semiconductors, 6G, artificial intelligence and quantum technologies.
“This cooperation is designed to boost future competitiveness and technological leadership while building stronger economic security through greater resilience in critical technologies, including cybersecurity,” the European Commission said in a statement.
More details here.
The European Commission and Türkiye will work together under the Horizon Policy Support Facility, a support scheme aimed at boosting research and innovation performance in EU member states and countries associated to Horizon Europe.
At the third EU-Türkiye High-Level Dialogue on science, research, technology and innovation, “discussions also touched on the role of innovation in driving economic development, and on technologies in support of the green industrial transformation,” the European Commission said in a statement. “The parties emphasised the critical role of start-up and scale-up financing in driving innovation and turning R&D outcomes into market-ready products.”
More details here.
The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)-funded Doctoral Networks call has received 1,616 proposals, an increase of 14% from last year.
In total, 153 proposals have been selected for funding, for an indicative budget of €597.8 million.
More details here.
The Council of the European Organisation for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT), the European operational satellite agency for monitoring weather, climate and the environment, has approved new and renewed scientific cooperations agreements to
These include new deals with the German Aerospace Centre and the UK’s National Centre for Earth Observation, and a renewed Memorandum of Understanding with China’s National Satellite Ocean Application Service.
“These agreements ensure EUMETSAT’s 30 member states maintain vital ocean data access while establishing new frameworks for scientific cooperation with the potential to accelerate innovation, advance satellite technology, and improve operational capabilities,” said Paul Counet, EUMETSAT’s head of strategy, communication and international relations.
More details here.
The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the Maltese government have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to launch the EIT Regional Innovation Booster pilot in Malta from 2026.
The EIT will allocate at least €30 million to the new scheme’s pilot phase until 2028.
“This new Xjenza Malta initiative is very important for Malta as it will offer guidance, funding and expert advice to make ideas commercially viable and ready for internationalisation,” said Silvio Scerri, CEO at government agency Xjenza Malta. “It’s about helping Malta’s innovators go from lab results to commercialisation.”
More details here.
The European University Association (EUA) is calling on the EU to not only increase the budget for the Erasmus+ programme between 2028 and 2034, but also clarify the allocations per sector and new actions.
New actions include scholarships for excellence in strategic fields.
“Furthermore, key stakeholders, including universities and the wider European education and training sector, must be closely involved in these discussions,” the EUA said in a statement.
More details here.
A coalition of 25 food and feed associations is urging the European Parliament to scrap additional restrictions and swiftly finalise a deal on new genomic techniques (NGTs) during trilogue negotiations.
New requirements include sustainability criteria and traceability and labelling obligations, which NGT supporters expect to create “unnecessary administrative complexity and burden” for the agri-food sector. Instead, they call for a “clear and enabling legislative framework.”
Read the full open letter here.
The Centre for Technological Development and Innovation (CDTI) has announced that under the Seal of Excellence 2025 call, 11 innovative Spanish projects would be awarded a total of €22 million in subsidies.
The selected projects cover areas ranging from pharmaceutical 3D printing to biobanking solutions to sustainable production technologies.
“This substantial boost underscores the commitment of CDTI, Spain, and the European Union to research, innovation, and technology transfer in response to current challenges in crucial areas,” the CDTI says.
More details here.
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the UK’s public research funding body, will target financial support to scale-ups by investing £8 billion for specific government priorities and £7 billion for innovative company growth out of a £38.6 billion taxpayer settlement.
“There is no route to stronger growth in this country, no answer to how we pay our way, or compete with the rest of the world, without science, technology and innovation leading front and centre. But we must be smarter about what we prioritise, for these efforts to succeed,” UK science and technology secretary Liz Kendall said at a UKRI conference this week.
Meanwhile, £9 billion is expected to go towards the fields of research in which the UK is among the strongest, such as AI and quantum.
More details here.
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