More excellent research, impactful innovation and technology scale-ups are needed to make Europe more globally competitive, secure and sustainable. These are among the twelve expert recommendations presented today to the Commission to strengthen Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme, and its successor.

The recommendations have been drafted by an independent group of 15 leading experts chaired by Manuel Heitor, former secretary of state for science, technology and higher education of Portugal. Their report, entitled ‘Align, Act, Accelerate: Research, Technology and Innovation to boost European Competitiveness’, highlights the European added value of the EU framework programme for research and innovation (R&I), and puts forward twelve recommendations:

1. Adopt a whole-of-government approach to align research and innovation with the EU strategy for competitiveness and a clean, digital economy.
2. Boost Europe’s global competitiveness by fostering impactful research, innovation and scale-ups through a stronger framework programme.
3. Deliver European added value via a portfolio of actions focused on competitive excellence, industrial competitiveness, societal challenges and a strong research and innovation ecosystem.
4. Establish an experimental unit to launch disruptive innovation programmes with fast funding options, such as “ARPA-style” initiatives.
5. Strengthen competitive excellence by expanding funding for European Research Council, European Innovation Council and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions to attract top talent.
6. Create an Industrial Competitiveness and Technology Council to enhance industrial research and innovation investment and ensure relevance to strategic autonomy.
7. Form a Societal Challenges Council to address key societal issues, align with EU strategic priorities and engage with philanthropy and civil society.
8. Build an inclusive and attractive EU R&I ecosystem by securing long-term investments, fostering university alliances and encouraging Member States’ co-investment.
9. Simplify the programme by reducing administrative burdens, embracing agile funding and streamlining application processes.
10. Develop an innovation procurement programme to stimulate industrial scaling through demand-driven solutions.
11. Approach international cooperation with a nuanced strategy, tailoring partnerships to specific domains and global geopolitical considerations.
12. Optimise dual-use technology innovation by managing civilian and military R&I programmes separately, leveraging benefits for national security and civilian needs.

Building on these recommendations, the independent experts are calling for an increased, more focused and protected budget. According to their analysis, this investment would position Europe as a leader in international R&I collaboration and governance.

Background

The high-level group on the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe brought together 15 experts from across Europe with a wide range of backgrounds.

The group was tasked in December 2023to provide concrete recommendations to the Commission on how to enhance the EU R&I programme in the short and longer term. The recommendations build on extensive stakeholder consultations and a wide body of evidence and analysis, including external studies.

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