Here’s what 2026 has in store for European research and innovation policy

08 Jan 2026 | News

Horizon Europe negotiations are set to heat up, and the EU will make moves to regulate research

Photo credits: adam36 / BigStock

Another big year for research and innovation lies ahead, with negotiations on the next Horizon Europe programme gathering pace and moves to introduce binding EU rules to improve its research and innovation systems. Here’s what to expect.

First quarter: innovation plans revealed 

In the next few months, the European Commission is set to adopt much anticipated regulations intended to usher in a new age of European innovation.

The first set of new rules will be the European Innovation Act, which will aim to break down barriers that prevent innovative ideas reaching the market. The act will cover regulatory sandboxes, access to research infrastructures and support for technology transfer…