High Level Workshop on ERA 2025

Background of the Workshop

The European research and innovation landscape is diverse. Its community is driven by the goal to tackle societal challenges while achieving economic growth and prosperity. The European Union has developed successive Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation to support this by funding R&I activities across Europe and beyond. These have been very successful and have encouraged institutional collaboration and mobility of researchers across Europe.

However, the current geopolitical situation challenges how we work together internationally. Although openness and international collaboration are at the core of great science and innovation, concerns about research security and economic competitiveness lead to shifting paradigms and influence the discussion on the development of the 10th Framework Programme.

Development of FP10

The year 2025 will be decisive for R&I in Europe: a new European Commission is in place and the initial principles for FP10 and its relation to a broader Competitiveness Fund are being outlined, which will also influence the development of the next Multiannual Financial Framework. It is therefore a crucial time for Science Europe to bring together its Member Organisations to discuss and agree on strategic directions for science.

The 2024 reports from Enrico Letta, Mario Draghi, and the Horizon Europe Interim Evaluation Group chaired by Manuel Heitor, provided a background for the development of FP10. Geopolitical developments and a political focus on improving competitiveness shape its current development.

Although it has been announced as a "standalone" programme, the tight connection to the Competitiveness Fund raises important questions on how it can maintain its autonomy while still fostering freedom of scientific enquiry, scientific excellence, and collaboration. At the same time, the current geopolitical developments do prompt the research community and policy makers to balance openness with research security when sharing publications and data.

Science Europe has so far proposed several initial strategic approaches regarding the development of FP10 in a number of statements. Independent of the final arrangements for FP10, there are certain policies, concepts, and requirements that should be safeguarded in the programme to align with these approaches and Science Europe's vision.

Discussions at the High Level Workshop

During the High Level Workshop, participants will look at overarching policies, concepts, and requirements to continue fostering science diplomacy, shared values on research culture, and building trusted research collaborations. As many feel that the current research system sees too much competition among researchers and research groups, we will also discuss policies to limit a further shift towards competition.

A case study with a focus on the Arctic will also provide examples of how emerging challenges and geopolitical tensions shape collaborations and influence the core of FP10 through adapted policy priorities.

This will be addressed in two themed sessions:

• Valorisation & Innovation: How can RFOs and RPOs work together to create the best possible impact?
• Shaping the future: In a time when traditional alliances are being challenged and international relationships can become volatile, where does Europe find itself positioned in the global R&I landscape?