As the first moves are made in shaping the 2028 – 2034 R&D programme, there are informal discussions about shifting the focus of Widening measures away from country level and using this initiative to support all less-advanced regions across the EU

Israeli researchers, some still under rocket fire, have said it was impossible to meet application cut-off points during a state of war. Now the ERC and EIC are pushing back four deadlines for all applicants

A tussle between policy-driven and bottom-up research will shape Framework Programme 10. There are two years to have the debate and strike a balance. ‘This is the beginning of the conversation,’ says Marc Lemaître

Voters go to the polls on 22 October, following which wider talks with Brussels should resume. But with the Commission’s precise negotiating preconditions unclear, it’s doubtful whether association to the research programme can be agreed before EU elections next year

Budget discussions are on for the EU’s next R&I funding programme, due to begin in 2028, and the European Parliament wants more than twice as much as was agreed last time

MEPs’ ambition is to up funding for the European Innovation Council, and for health and climate research. But this is once again at odds with budget cuts proposed by EU governments

The continuing roll out of lump sums across Horizon Europe is coming to the €10B European Innovation Council in 2024. Meanwhile, EU auditors are calling for ‘technical changes’ to this approach to disbursing grants

Parliament votes to prevent money being taken away from Horizon Europe’s Pillar II to fund the Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform

Kiwi researchers have won four bids so far, although this could create budget headaches for Wellington. New Zealand also wants to collaborate with the EU on sensitive technologies like space and quantum