- Competitiveness & Innovation
Europe’s next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) needs a major upgrade
Brussels, 19 July 2024: In the latest of a series of actions highlighting concerns for Europe’s competitiveness, the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) today issues a new paper addressing the importance of EU action to support innovation. The next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) will be the crucial stepping stone to strengthen Europe’s research and innovation potential.
ERT’s latest position paper entitled Seizing the Moment – the Next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10), stresses the need for an adequate FP10 budget in the order of €200 billion and underlines the importance of overall continuity, building on an improved version of Horizon Europe.
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Strategic Importance of FP10
FP10 will succeed Horizon Europe and span from 2028 to 2034. To strengthen its effectiveness, the coming years should be used to scale and shape FP10 in a way that is bold, pragmatic and open-minded:
Key recommendations by ERT include:
- Bold Financial Commitment: ERT and Europe’s wider scientific community° call for FP10 to be allocated at least €200 billion, more than doubling the budget of current Horizon Europe programme. This level of funding will help position Europe better in the face fierce competition with its global peers.
- Pragmatic Approach: FP10 should be set up as an upgraded and improved continuation of Horizon Europe’s core elements, which have proven their value.
- Open-Minded: FP10 is the opportunity to optimise the second Pillar of Horizon Europe by correcting weaknesses and adding missing links. Including dual-use innovation within the FP10 scope would benefit Europe’s security and enhance the ‘innovation dividend’.
Restoring Competitiveness: A Multi-Faceted Strategy
A strategic and strong FP10 is an indispensable component of any broader strategy needed to restore Europe’s competitiveness**. Europe’s industry is looking to the next European Commission, the new European Parliament and EU Member States to:
- A bold financial investment into FP10
- Prioritise innovation in all legislative initiatives.
- Simplify and harmonise regulations to make the EU the best place for business.
- Abolish remaining trade barriers within the Single Market.
- Seize opportunities in the digital economy by incentivising private investment and minimising regulatory obstacles.
- Address energy transformation through a Single Market for energy and closing a significant investment gap.
- Rebuild Europe’s defence capabilities as a matter of urgency.
These proposed actions can support the digital and green transitions, bolster Europe’s potential to regain the lead in innovation and protect Europe’s future prosperity.
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Note to Editors:
* Download Seizing the Moment – The Next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation .
° ERT supports ResearchMatters – for more information, visit https://research-matters.eu/
** For more information on ERT’s work on competitiveness, check out the 2024 ERT Benchmarking Report: Rebuilding Europe’s Business Case: https://ert.eu/bmr2024/
Check out ERT’s 2023 publication Innovation made in Europe and a wider collection of 46 Innovation Stories here: https://ert.eu/innovation
Listen to the Innovation-themed episode of our podcast, featuring Dr Martin Brudermueller (then CEO of BASF SE) and Dr Lars Frølund. Available on various podcast platforms here.
Innovation has a transformative effect on industry and society globally and its speed is accelerating. Scientific breakthroughs and industrial innovation are essential if we are to navigate major challenges such as climate change, resource scarcity and the implications of demographic evolution. Europe’s ability to deliver solutions to markets at scale will fundamentally determine our relevance in a changing and challenging global setting.
Horizon Europe has greatly strengthened our research and innovation ecosystems. FP10 is a vital opportunity to further boost research and to scale-up innovation potential by adding elements that are still missing – to help the EU make that leap forward in emerging technologies and the next sources of prosperity. For this reason, leaders’ commitment to restoring competitiveness needs follow-through with a strong FP10 - EU Member States will need to treat it as a major investment in Europe’s future.