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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UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the UK’s public research funding body, has launched a new programme backed by £50 million in funding to address violence and crimes in Britain’s streets.
The research and innovation scheme, which comes as part of the Safer Streets Mission, will bring together researchers, innovators and communities to work on projects ranging from reducing violence against women and girls to rebuilding confidence in the criminal justice system.
More details here.
Almost 40 biotech industry associations have released a joint statement calling for ambitious European legislation to support biomanufacturing scale-up and market deployment.
The European Commission published the first part of the European Biotech Act, focused on health, in November 2025, and is due to present the second part in the third quarter of 2026.
“A Biotech Act II dedicated to biomanufacturing is the missing piece of the puzzle for the EU’s global competitiveness from this vital technology,” said Claire Skentelbery, director general of EuropaBio.
Read the statement here.
Wellcome, one of the world’s largest independent charitable foundations funding health-related research, says the next Horizon Europe programme should include specific reference to global health challenges such as climate change, infectious disease and mental health.
This should be backed up by stronger links with the EU framework for science diplomacy and the proposed Global Europe Programme, Wellcome says in a newly published position paper.
The paper also calls for an expedited procedure for countries currently associated to Horizon Europe to join the next iteration of the programme.
Wellcome says the programme should also make it easier to work with philanthropies by simplifying administrative processes and introducing a mechanism for philanthropic co-funding.
Read the full position paper here.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has published its 2026 tech report, which identifies 25 emerging deep technologies with the potential to influence Europe’s future innovation and industrial landscape.
These emerging technologies show early indications of scaling potential at low to mid-maturity levels and could strengthen Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy. They cover three areas: digital and space technologies, clean technologies, and biotech and health.
The analysis is based on EIC portfolio data from 2021 to 2025, including funded projects and high-quality non-funded proposals.
Read the 2026 EIC Tech Report here.
To reinforce collaboration between universities and industry, university association Cesaer believes that industrial doctorates require stronger European and national funding and simplified and coherent frameworks for regulations, research careers and intellectual property.
The group calls on strengthening in particular the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions to scale high-quality industrial doctorates. Meanwhile, streamlined regulatory and administrative frameworks can help lower entry barriers for SMEs and boost cross-border cooperation.
More details here.
The European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO) is calling on “separate, standalone” budgetary allocations for Pillar 2 – which will cover collaborative research in the next iteration of Horizon Europe – and policy windows in the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).
More details here.
The European Commission and Australia have opened formal negotiations towards a deal on Horizon Europe.
“With the EU-Australia agreements last week, we are moving quickly to bring our innovation ecosystems closer together,” research Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva says in a statement. “This will add to the growing list of likeminded countries that have chosen to join Horizon Europe.”
More details here.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation, said that she had discussed with the UK government the possibility of having the country associated to the next iteration of Horizon Europe.
“I had a nice discussion with [the] UK Minister of state for science, innovation, research and nuclear Lord Patrick Vallance on his country participation in Horizon Europe,” she wrote on social media. “We would be happy to have the UK as an associated country in the next Framework Programme.”
More details here.
The European Commission has launched with the European Investment Bank (EIB) the Sustainable Water Advisory Facility (SWAF-G), a €10-million pilot scheme designed to assist public and private organisations in deploying circular economy investments in the water sector.
The initiative falls under the InvestEU Advisory Hub and is financed by Horizon Europe.
“The facility will help stakeholders with technical preparation, capacity building, market development and water value chain integration, to optimise water resource management and enhance long-term environmental and economic resilience,” the Commission said.
More details here.
The European Innovation Council (EIC) has granted €20 million to 41 Ukrainian start-ups and SMEs. Each selected company is set to receive between €300,000 and €500,000, and will be able to gain fast-track access to the EIC Accelerator.
More details here.
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