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.
The UK has a new blueprint for improving its knowledge transfer from universities to spin outs in a report published by Research England.
The recommendations include boosting access to pre-seed and scale-up funding, improving system-wide collaboration, addressing the “cultural mistmatch” between universities and investors and tackling barriers to spin-out formation.
The report highlights the UK already has Europe’s leading start-up ecosystem and a sophisticated investor landscape.
Read more here.
A philanthropic foundation backed by a hedge fund manager has announced it will give out $17.6 million to research the impact of digital technology on brain development, behaviour and mental health in young people and children.
The Huo Family Foundation is backed by Yan Huo, founder of the British hedge fund Capula Investment Management.
“Digital technology is profoundly shaping childhood and young adulthood, yet there is little causal evidence on its effects,” said Huo in a statement. “Through this programme, we are proud to support exceptional researchers advancing vital scientific understanding." The grants have gone to a range of universities in the UK and US.
A digital chapter of the free trade deal between the EU and Singapore entered into force on February 2.
The agreement is the EU's first-ever standalone bilateral trade agreement, according to a European Commission statement, and covers areas like consumer protection, privacy, and spam. It also stops practices like "unjustified data localisation requirements" and "forced transfers of source code".
The deal has been negotiated since 2023, and builds on an overarching free trade deal between the EU and Singapore agreed in 2019.
The European University Association has released a report on how universities can adopt artificial intelligence tools in ways that serve their needs and values.
The report addresses questions such as how to maximise investment in AI for the best learning and work experience, how to reconcile AI’s climate impact with universities’ net-zero ambitions, and how to build awareness of digital risks. In total, it covers five thematic areas: ethics, strategies, training, regulation and sustainability.
Download the report here.
Slovenia has launched a national platform dedicated to knowledge transfer and valorisation to provide users with access to key contacts, innovation offers, research expertise and collaboration opportunities.
More details here.
EIT RawMaterials, one of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), is investing €600,000 in Nordic Bio-Graphite, a Swedish start-up developing high-purity graphite by use of forestry residues, a critical material for high-tech industries, including lithium-ion battery anodes and semiconductor manufacturing.
According to the EIT, the funding will enable the company to move with detailed plans for its first pilot plant.
“China currently controls nearly 80% of global graphite production, and as demand surges, we cannot afford to continue to rely on fragile, high-carbon import chains,” said Bernd Schäfer, CEO of EIT RawMaterials. “Nordic Bio-Graphite’s breakthrough represents exactly the kind of circular, fossil-free innovation Europe needs.”
More details here.
The German federal government has come out against the introduction of top-down approaches “in which research topics are prescribed,” in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions researcher training programme under the next Framework Programme for research and innovation, FP10.
In a new position paper following the publication of the European Commission’s FP10 proposal in July 2025, Germany also rejects the proposed reduction in the term of the European Research Council president from four years to two years.
The paper does however support opening the programme to dual-use projects with civil and defence applications. It calls for funding to be awarded based on scientific excellence and open competition. “Geographic criteria should play no role when it comes to selecting the best projects,” it reads.
The European Research Council has announced 136 recipients of its Proof of Concept grants under the last 2025 call for proposals. Each grantee will receive €150,000 to explore how their scientific results can move towards practical application or early commercial use.
Projects include using satellite images and artificial intelligence to assess damage caused by war and new ultrasound techniques designed to improve the way kidney disease is detected and monitored.
In total, 300 Proof of Concept grants were awarded under the 2025 work programme from 879 proposals, totalling €45 million. Germany had the highest number of successful applicants, followed by Spain, Italy and the UK.
A full list of selected projects is available here.
The Coimbra Group of universities has released recommendations for the EU's proposed European Research Area Act.
Among other things, it wants better conditions for postdoctoral researchers, minimum standards for researchers' rights, and stable funding.
However, the group is split on whether, as proposed, the EU should set up a dedicated whistleblowing channel to report artificial intelligence misuse in research. "A dedicated whistleblowing mechanism could lead to disproportionate reactions, unfair reputational harm, and a chilling effect on legitimate research, without clear evidence that AI misuse currently represents a systemic problem beyond existing misconduct channels," the group's proposals say.
The European Commission has called for public evidence as it formulates a plan for women in research, innovation and start-ups.
It's part of the bloc's plan to create a European Research Area, where ideas and scientists can move seamlessly across the continent. But there are "persistent gender gaps" currently, says the consultation. Just 9% of patents are filed by women. And all-female founding teams get just 2% of venture capital money flowing to start-ups.
The plan "aims to establish the EU as the world’s most attractive place for women in these areas by 2030". The consultation runs until 23 February.
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