EU Framework Programmes
The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation is an essential tool to boost excellent research and innovation and foster collaboration at European level. Science Europe actively promotes its vision for an ambitious programme that will help develop excellence throughout the European Research Area.
Why are the EU Framework Programmes important?
The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation is the main EU funding instrument for research and innovation (R&I).
The topic is a major priority area for Science Europe and its Member Organisations (MOs). Science Europe represents both Research Performing Organisations (RPOs), who are among the main beneficiaries of the Framework Programmes, and Research Funding Organisations (RFOs), who have decades of experience in setting up leading research programmes and who collaborate regularly with the European Commission notably through joint initiatives.
Science Europe and its MOs are committed to contributing to making EU Framework Programmes a successful and efficient tool to boost R&I.
What are the current priorities?
The European Institutions are currently preparing Horizon Europe, the next Framework Programme for 2021-2027. Science Europe firmly believes that Europe needs and deserves a research programme which:
- has a substantially larger budget than Horizon 2020 in order to meet ambitious goals such as strengthening the European position on the world research and innovation landscape, and addressing the societal challenges Europe faces.
- recognises ‘excellence’ as its core principle and reinforces instruments promoting research excellence such as the European Research Council.
- provides opportunities for fundamental and applied research in all parts of the programme, including challenge-oriented research.
- includes measures to encourage and develop excellence in all countries of the European Research Area.
- encourages Open Access to research results and data sharing.
- strengthens cooperation with public sector partners by joining R&I programmes and cross-border investment for the benefit of research and innovation.
What is Science Europe doing to achieve these aims?
Science Europe is an active voice in the policy dialogues for the Horizon Europe preparations and is actively collaborating with policy makers from the EU Institutions to ensure that the input of its Research Performing Organisations and Research Funding Organisations is integrated into the final programme.
Science Europe puts forward the experience of its Member Organisations, and feedback from approaches tested at national level, to inform the decisions regarding the development and implementation of new initiatives developed within Horizon Europe.
Science Europe also informs and supports its Member Organisations in the context of their own engagement with Horizon Europe.
| Country | Organisation | Acronym | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Austrian Science Fund | FWF | Reinhard Belocky |
| Belgium | Fund for Scientific Research | FRS-FNRS | Natacha Wittorski |
| Belgium | Research Foundation Flanders | FWO | Ann Van Hauwaert |
| Denmark | Independent Research Fund Denmark | DFF | Anne Lindeløv |
| Estonia | Estonian Research Council | ETAg | Maria Alajõe |
| Finland | Academy of Finland | AKA | Hannele Lahtinen |
| France | French National Research Agency | ANR | Nakita Vodjdani |
| Germany | German Research Foundation | DFG | Martin Winger |
| Germany | Max Planck Society | MPG | Rüdiger Hesse |
| Germany | Leibniz Association | Leibniz | Elena Martins |
| Ireland | Irish Research Council | IRC | Peter Brown |
| Ireland | Science Foundation Ireland | SFI | Rochelle Fritch |
| Italy | National Institute for Nuclear Physics | INFN | Alessia D’Orazio |
| Lithuania | Research Council of Lithuania | LMT | Jūratė Devižienė |
| Netherlands | Dutch Research Council | NWO | Joyce Kuipers |
| Norway | Research Council of Norway | RCN | Tom-Espen Møller |
| Norway | Research Council of Norway | RCN | Tor Ivar Eikaas |
| Poland | Foundation for Polish Science | FNP | Michal Pietras |
| Poland | Foundation for Polish Science | FNP | Tomasz Poprawka |
| Poland | National Science Centre Poland | NCN | Sylwia Kostka |
| Portugal | Foundation for Science and Technology | FCT | Ana Mafalda Dourado |
| Spain | Spanish National Research Council | CSIC | Berta Martínez |
| Sweden | Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development | FORMAS | Britta Fängström |
| Sweden | Swedish Research Council | VR | Ana Beramendi |
| Switzerland | Swiss National Science Foundation | SNSF | Rahel Byland |
| United Kingdom | UK Research and Innovation | UKRI | Inga Benner |
Related content
Reaction to Mariya Gabriel’s Public Hearing at the European Parliament: Research is Essential to All EU Policy Areas
Science Europe warmly welcomes the strong commitment from Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner-designate for Innovation and Youth, to support excellent research in Europe. Research is essential for Europe to address the societal challenges, and lead the transition to a sustainable and digital economy and society.
Science Europe Call to the European Institutions: The Need for an Ambitious Budget for Horizon 2020
Ahead of the trilogue negotiations on the EU Budget for 2020, Science Europe calls on the Council to agree to a substantial budgetary increase for Horizon 2020. Outcomes of Horizon 2020 provide a key contribution to long-term economic growth, European competitiveness, and in finding solutions to societal and global challenges. Going forward, Europe must maintain its capacity to produce and exploit knowledge, and it must receive the appropriate funding to do so.
Response to the European Commission Consultation on Horizon Europe Co-design 2021-2024
For Horizon Europe’s ‘Strategic Plan’ 2021-2024, Science Europe urges the European Commission to support cutting-edge research and innovation at all Technological and Societal Readiness Levels, and to adopt objectives that are not limited to short term impact. Europe should dare to explore unexplored paths and support riskier experimentation. Moreover, Science Europe recommends to reinforce a series of cross-cutting factors to increase the scientific, economic, and societal impacts of Horizon Europe.
Reaction to the Political Partial Agreement on Horizon Europe: A Good Deal but is there a Supporting Budget?
Science Europe welcomes the Political Partial Agreement on Horizon Europe, voted on today in plenary by the European Parliament. Science Europe is very pleased to see that excellence remains the core principle of the programme. However Horizon Europe’s ambitions can only be met with the appropriate funding and we therefore advise that Horizon Europe is granted a budget of at least €120bn.
Reaction to the Legislators’ Latest Decisions on Horizon Europe
In view of the upcoming trilogues between the three European institutions, Science Europe invites all parties to consider a series of elements to further improve the legislative package for Horizon Europe. The budget of €120bn proposed by the European Parliament is a very welcome proposal and should be taken up by the Council in the next Multiannual Financial Framework. Moreover, fundamental research must be included in all parts of the programme, including the European Innovation Council.
Factsheet on the Need to Support Fundamental Research
The European Commission proposal for Horizon Europe falls short of acknowledging the importance of fundamental research. This factsheet demonstrates the essential role fundamental research plays, not only for research, but also for innovation.
Factsheet on the Need to Increase Funding for Research and Innovation
The overall funding for research and innovation in Europe needs to be increased and an adequate ring-fenced budget should be provided for Horizon Europe. In this factsheet Science Europe illustrates some of the reasons why.
Reaction to the European Commission Proposal on Horizon Europe
Science Europe welcomes the overall continuity between the internal structure and funding rates between Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe. However, the proposed budget increase for the period 2021-2027 does not live up to the ambitious scenarios defended by the European Commission in front of the Heads of States and Governments in March 2018 and will not be sufficient for Europe to meet its ambitious political goals.
Response to the European Commission Call for Feedback on Missions
Science Europe sees interesting opportunities in the use of missions and cross-disciplinary Research and Innovation as part of Europe’s toolset to address societal or global challenges. However, the criteria for selecting missions so far have been too broad and more discussion is needed on the concept of missions and their introduction in FP9.
The Funding that Europe Needs: Recommendations on the Multiannual Financial Framework
The Multiannual Financial Frameworks (MFF) determine the budget allocation of the EU over a period of seven years. Science Europe recommends strengthening science, research, and innovation by increasing their budget in the MFF for 2021–2027 and to take measures to ensure that the 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation will have the capacity to achieve its goals.