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What Have the EU's Research Framework Programmes Actually Invented?

What Have the EU's Research Framework Programmes Actually Invented?

Last year, when visiting Germany's Sprind innovation agency, I was asked a question that had me stumped: do the EU's research Framework Programmes, the current one being Horizon Europe, actually "work"? 

Budget First, Impact Later: Academic Community Reacts to Horizon Europe Analysis

Budget First, Impact Later: Academic Community Reacts to Horizon Europe Analysis

The academic community has pushed back against conclusions drawn from an interim evaluation of Horizon Europe, published on April 30. Where the European Commission sees evidence of sound investment, with every euro spent so far yielding up to €11 in GDP gains by 2045, university groups find the unfunded 70% of excellent research proposals as sign of limited ambition.

UK and Switzerland to Gain Access to 'Strategic' Horizon Europe Calls

UK and Switzerland to Gain Access to 'Strategic' Horizon Europe Calls

Researchers and companies in the UK, Switzerland and other countries associated to Horizon Europe are set to have access to a greater number of calls in strategic areas like quantum and space, under the 2025 Horizon work programmes pre-published last week.

Horizon Work Programmes for 2025 Show Clear Shift to Competitiveness

Horizon Work Programmes for 2025 Show Clear Shift to Competitiveness

Starting this year, Horizon Europe will double down on the EU's competitiveness agenda and pivot towards simpler administration rules, according to draft work programmes pre-published this week by the European Commission.

Swiss Take Further Step Towards Horizon Europe Association

Swiss Take Further Step Towards Horizon Europe Association

Switzerland's Federal Council has signed off an agreement that will allow the country to join Horizon Europe, another step towards ending a diplomatic stalemate over association that has dragged on since 2021. On April 9, the council approved the EU Programmes Agreement, which allows association to Horizon Europe, the Euratom atomic research programme and the Digital Europe Programme. 

New Widening Tools to Target Research Collaboration and Management

New Widening Tools to Target Research Collaboration and Management

Further details have emerged about measures intended to boost the research and innovation performance of lagging member states in the final years of Horizon Europe. These tools will be deployed in parallel with a review of the Widening programme.

A Year of UK Success in Horizon Europe As Major Innovations Take Place

A Year of UK Success in Horizon Europe As Major Innovations Take Place

The UK is marking a year of successful collaboration with Horizon Europe, reflecting on innovation and funding opportunities for researchers.

Parliament Set for Showdown with Commission over Standalone FP10

Parliament Set for Showdown with Commission over Standalone FP10

The European Parliament has adopted a report calling for a standalone research Framework Programme in the next long-term EU budget. This lays the ground for a conflict with the European Commission, which is expected to place the programme within a broader EU Competitiveness Fund.

Swiss Association to Horizon Europe Faces Referendum Challenge by 2028

Swiss Association to Horizon Europe Faces Referendum Challenge by 2028

Switzerland could once again fall out of the EU's Horizon Europe research programme if voters reject a wider, underpinning deal in a likely 2026 or 2028 referendum, the leaders of the country's biggest research funding agency have warned. An overarching deal between Brussels and Bern expected this week should allow Swiss researchers to finally fully participate in Horizon Europe, after years of political squabbles locked them out of certain parts of the programme since it began in 2021. 

Call for Dedicated Fund for Civil Security Research and Deployment

Call for Dedicated Fund for Civil Security Research and Deployment

Industry is calling on the EU to step up investment in civil security by setting up a new programme covering everything from research to procurement - which could mean moving existing research support out of Horizon Europe.

EU MEPs Reject Cuts to Research and Innovation

EU MEPs Reject Cuts to Research and Innovation

MEPs have voted for a €242 million boost to Horizon Europe for next year, as part of a bid to head off a total of €1.52 billion in cuts member states have proposed to the 2025 EU budget. The European Parliament committee on budgets adopted its position on next year's budget at a meeting in Strasbourg on Monday.

Singapore 'Respects Human Rights' Claims the Commission in 'Sensitive' Horizon Europe Document

Singapore 'Respects Human Rights' Claims the Commission in 'Sensitive' Horizon Europe Document

The European Commission has talked up Singapore's record on democracy and human rights to member states to justify the city state's inclusion in the EU's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.

Calls for Evidence That Singapore Meets Horizon Democracy Criteria

Calls for Evidence That Singapore Meets Horizon Democracy Criteria

A leading MEP and human rights organisations want the European Commission to explain how it gave Singapore a clean enough bill of health on democracy and human rights to join the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.