HORIZON BLOG: European R&D policy newsbytes

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. 

The EU should have a comprehensive, well-funded FP10, according to an open letter signed by 32 European Academies of sciences, arts and humanities.  

Academies say the EU Framework Programme should have a bigger budget, provide simpler funding schemes and better mechanisms to support national research systems. 

Read the letter here. 

The EU and South Africa have agreed to strengthen cooperation in innovative cancer treatments, nuclear research for civilian use and sustainable development, the European Commission has announced. 

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen visited Cape Town this week together with European Council President António Costa. They attended the eighth EU-South Africa bilateral summit to reaffirm Europe’s commitment the “strategic partnership” between the two parties and boost collaboration in various fields, including scientific research.  

Von der Leyen announced the start of negotiations on a new trade and investment deal with South Africa, worth €4.7 billion. 

Read more here. 

Universities are backing broader efforts to strengthen links between EU funding programmes, but disagree with plans to integrate the next Framework Programme for research and innovation, FP10, into a broader Competitiveness Fund, according to a statement by the European University Association (EUA).  

EUA says that such a move poses risks that could undermine the core mission of the Framework Programme and welcomed the Warsaw Declaration signed this week, a diplomatic effort by all member states to safeguard a standalone FP10. 

“EUA urges the European Commission to maintain FP10 as a stand-alone programme, ensuring it continues to serve as a catalyst for scientific excellence, knowledge, innovation, and long-term societal progress,” EUA said. 

Read the full EUA statement here.