Horizon Europe is well underway, but the world of European R&D policy goes well beyond the confines of the €95.5 billion R&D programme. EU climate, digital, agriculture and regional policies all have significant research and innovation components. 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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Preliminary results of a public consultation organised by the European Commission shows European start-ups want better access to finance, markets and talent, fewer regulatory burdens, as well as improved access to research facilities, innovation hubs, and accelerators.
The final results of the consultation will feed into EU’s upcoming strategy for start-ups and scale-ups, to be presented in May.
"The insights gathered from this consultation will inform our efforts to create a more supportive environment for startups and scaleups, driving innovation and competitiveness across the EU,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU commissioner for start-ups, research and innovation.
More here.
The European Commission has invited stakeholders, experts and the public to provide feedback on the strategy for European life sciences.
The strategy aims to speed up innovations in the life sciences by removing key barriers and providing new opportunities to speed up knowledge deployment.
Stakeholders can submit their views here until 17 April.
Researchers can apply for a new round of Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Staff Exchanges.
The European Commission will support around 85 projects with a total of €97.7 million. Applications are open until October 2025.
Read more here.
The tripartite governance of the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) has held a meeting in Krakow to discuss the next steps towards an improved system for sharing research data and digital resources across Europe.
EOSC will soon publish a “federation handbook” on how research organisations can join.
In a second meeting later this year, the group will meet to discuss the future of EOSC after 2027.
More info here.
The European Commission is to organise this years’ annual conference on research and innovation, the R&I days, on 16 and 17 September 2025.
The Commission plans to discuss the EU’s next long-term budget and the next Framework Programme.
More information is available here.
The EU should have a comprehensive long-term strategy for research, education and innovation that could help the European Commission deliver on its competitiveness agenda, according to a paper by The European University Association (EUA).
The EUA says a long-term strategy for research, education and innovation should be part of the Commission’s dialogue on ensuring and promoting economic competitiveness.
Read it here.
The European Commission welcomes applications for the 2026 edition of the European Capital of Innovation Award (iCapital).
Participating cities should have a population of at least 250,000 people to be able to compete over the €1 million in funding.
Smaller cities starting at 50,000 inhabitants can participate in the Rising Innovative City award.
More information here.
The European Commission has launched three new research partnerships in advanced materials, textiles and photovoltaics.
Later this year, the Commission will announce the first funding opportunities under the partnerships.
“By uniting research and industry, we accelerate innovation, drive smarter investments, and bridge gaps in Europe’s research and innovation landscape,” said Ekaterina Zaharieva, EU Commissioner for startups, research and innovation.
Read more here.
European and African research organisations say the EU should “strengthen strategic commitments in and through research, innovation and higher education with low- and middle- income countries.
In a statement published this week, 15 research organisations and associations from European and Africa say the EU should increase budgets for research and innovation to fulfill the egenda of its foreign aid scheme, the Global Gateway.
“Research-driven international collaborations provide the foundation for sustainable, prosperous knowledge-based economies and are instrumental in tackling common challenges, including health threats, climate change, and digital transformation,” the statement says.
“In the next [EU multiannual budget], we have an outstanding opportunity to put financial heft behind our commitment to the EU Global Gateway, including its crucial fifth pillar, research and education,” says Jan Palmowski, secretary-general of The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities.
Read more here.
The European Commission should help strengthen research and technology organisations with additional funding for deep-tech spin-offs, says the European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO).
“[Research and technology organisations] are instrumental in transforming cutting-edge research into market-ready innovations,” EARTO said in a position paper submitted to the Commission for a public consultation on a new European strategy for start-ups and scale-ups due to be presented later this year.
Read the EARTO statement here.
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