The UK government, raising the political heat over Brexit, began legal proceedings against the European Union for blocking its membership in the €95.5 billion research programme, Horizon Europe.

It's August and most research and innovation policy wonks have left Brussels. But, if you have summer homework and you need to read up on this year's main developments in research and innovation, we've got you covered. In our view, there have been two main stories this year for EU R&I policy: international chaos, and Horizon.

Success rates for researchers applying for Horizon Europe grants stand at 15.8% according to preliminary data, an improvement on the 'unacceptably low' level of 12% in the previous EU research programme, Horizon 2020.

US lawmakers have warned that fake research papers risk compromising trust in the entire scientific system, as Artificial Intelligence makes it ever easier for so-called paper mills to fool journals into accepting made up articles.

Horizon Europe is a new type of beast. While building on previous EU research programmes, it is doubling down on making an impact on major societal and technological challenges facing the bloc. Research stakeholders fear this shift will take money away from laboratory bench research and are calling on the European Commission to ensure it is clear which parts of the Horizon Europe pot impact-driven funding is coming from.  

A new in-depth analysis of all research projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC) under Horizon 2020, reveals 55% of all grants combined went to the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands.

After four years at the helm of the European Commission's research directorate-general, Jean-Eric Paquet is now getting ready to become EU ambassador to Japan on 1 September. Paquet has been steering the directorate-general since three months before the Commission published its proposal for the Horizon Europe programme.

A year-long international dialogue to define "principles and values" in research has kicked off, with almost 50 countries attending an EU-convened conference to start what could be a contentious discussion.

In recent years, the world's leading industrialised nations have been moving to defend their science and technology from perceived threats from China, Russia and elsewhere. Now, they're trying to counter another risk: that their security measures could harm their own science.

Europe may be missing out on lucrative new products, start-ups, and even potential unicorns.

Academics forced to choose between staying in the UK and leaving for the EU say they were not given enough warning before having to make a crucial decision determining whether they keep life changing grants. Around 150 UK-based winners of European Research Council (ERC) grants have been put in a near impossible position because a wider rift between Brussels and London has stopped the UK from associating to Horizon Europe, the programme behind the ERC.

While the EU scrambles to help researchers at risk fleeing Russia's war, Ukrainians are urging decision makers to turn their eyes to the situation in the country and start thinking about long-term support.

Russia's invasion in Ukraine has upended long-held dogmas on international cooperation, including in science and technology. The European Commission is now using that momentum to speed up the development of innovation and promote self-sufficiency in critical areas, such as green energy, semiconductors and health, EU research and innovation commissioner told Science|Business.   

The European Organisation for Nuclear Research (CERN) has said it will cut its ties with Russia when its agreement with the country expires at the end of 2024.

EU efforts to reduce the east-west gap in research and innovation should be backed by investment and reforms in member states, the EU auditor says in a report reviewing funding schemes set up by the European Commission to help bridge the divide.

The European Research Council (ERC) is set to introduce lump sum funding to its Advanced grants for experienced researchers starting in 2024.

After weeks of internal debate, the US government broadened its sanctions against Russia to expressly include scientific relations.

Research leaders have this week put their weight behind a manifesto calling for moves to make research careers more attractive in a bid to stop the brain drain away from science.

EU science ministers signed off an agreement backing research assessment reform in Europe, alongside conclusions on open science, international cooperation and Horizon Europe missions.

At least half a dozen UK-based researchers have already lost coordination roles in Horizon Europe consortia because of the failure of Brussels and London to agree UK association to the programme, with the true tally losing out on leadership positions likely much higher.

Over the past two decades, Sub-Saharan Africa has stepped up its scientific production and its investment in higher education.

Life scientists are often oblivious to the risk of creating deadly new pathogens that could escape from the lab, a new World Health Organisation (WHO) report has warned, as the body draws up new global safety guidelines.

Member states are set to adopt a position backing research assessment reform in Europe - but they'll stress that any reforms must take into account the diversity of research systems in the EU, according to a draft document seen by Science|Business. Research ministers will meet in Luxembourg on Friday to sign off Council conclusions for research assessment reform in Europe, alongside conclusions on open science, international cooperation and Horizon Europe missions.

The UK is working on a "bigger, better" rival to the European Research Council as part of an alternative to the Horizon Europe, in response to growing fears that the country will not associate to the framework programme.

The invasion of Ukraine has helped open the door for Japan, Canada, South Korea and New Zealand to join Horizon Europe, according to Brussels lead negotiator Signe Ratso, as the EU tries to bolster research ties with likeminded democracies. Last year, it appeared that the Commission's efforts to convince these science powers to associate had stalled.

A year since the launch of Horizon Europe, the European Commission says its research partnerships with industry and member states are showing first signs of contributing to EU's green, digital and health policy goals.

The EU today launched a pilot project aiming to help regions coordinate regional, national and EU research and innovation policies, and to bridge the many gaps in Europe's fragmented innovation ecosystems.