Nurturing Horizon Europe

The mid-term evaluation of Horizon Europe is out. The Report - entitled "Align, Act, Accelerate" - makes bold recommendations to shape the future of EU science.

The aim of the Report is to "safeguard and strengthen the unique added value of European research, development and innovation". It acknowledges the EU's proven and internationally envied instrument for supporting science, technological development and innovation.

The Report was prepared by a group of experts chaired by Manuel Heitor. Some takeaways from the mid-term evaluation are below - which do not signify an endorsement of its recommendations.

"It is both a hallmark and a bedrock of the European project and of Europe’s future, bringing together researchers, institutions, innovators, enterprises and society across sectoral, disciplinary and national borders in a joint quest to do good science, tackle the biggest challenges our societies face and create prosperity." - the Report on the EU's funding for research and innovation.

EU science: key player with room for improvements

While Horizon Europe - and other EU science programmes - is rightly noted as an important player in the world of research and innovation, parts where it can be improved are the focus of the Report.

In particular, how science can help us respond to the significant and daunting uncertainties and unique challenges of our time. These will come as no surprise to anyone: the climate crisis, conflict, changing demographics, increasing inequality, health and pandemics, the erosion of democracy, the proliferation of disinformation, increasing global strategic competition and a constellation of novel technologies and their impact on ethics, security, and society.

The Report is clear on that science, technology and innovation are the "critical currency in addressing these challenges"

Why and How?

The Report identifies four “Spheres” of action for a transformative agenda for the EU's funding programmes for research and innovation. These are:

1. Promote and strengthen competitive excellence in science and innovation.
2. Foster industrial competitiveness through strategic research and innovation initiatives.
3. Promote societal transformations through research and innovation, by addressing societal challenges.
4. Strengthen the European RD&I ecosystem.

The Report also outlines its raison d'être - or why? The Report states how at this moment of momentous change - in economic development, the environment, and Europe's security - the EU is falling behind in science, technology and innovation

"Modelling has estimated that the long-term effect of Horizon 2020 resulted in an average annual increase in EU GDP of €15.9 billion" The Report on Horizon 2020, the EU's previous programme for research and innovation which ran from 2014 to 2020.

The Report also outlines its how? This includes funding and promoting pan-European research; using European public-private partnerships; and promoting cross-border and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers; amongst other topics. These are all underscored by a commitment to the value of research and innovation.

12 recommendations

The Report makes the case for 12 recommendations for the EU's research and innovation funding. Below are the headlines and their key points.

1. Create momentum and transforming research and innovation policy with the EU strategic agenda. This recommendation seeks to see EU research and innovation support - and be supported by - EU political priorities. These include the Letta Report , the Draghi Report , and the Commission's Political Guidelines . Read some of my takeaways on the Draghi Report.
2. Make Europe globally competitive, secure, sustainable and resilient by delivering more excellent research. Here, how EU research and innovation can revive Europe's declining competitiveness is key.
3. Deliver European added value through a portfolio of four interrelated and interdependent “spheres” of action - these are mentioned above. The main point of interest is the call to raise the next Framework Programme to €220 billion.
4. Adapt to the rapidly changing science and innovation landscape and the need to stimulate disruptive research and innovation in Europe. The Report calls for the establishment of an experimental unit to test new programs and instruments.
5. Strengthen competitive excellence. The importance of the Marie Sk?odowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) is underscored here, which funds doctoral and post-doctoral researchers. The Report seeks to change Europe's brain drain to brain gain through the launch of a "Choose Europe" instrument. This will see careers in research become more attractive in Europe.
6. Stimulate investment in Europe. This is to be done through the creation of an Industrial Competitiveness and Technology Council as well providing support to research Partnerships.
7. Address societal challenges more effectively by creating a Societal Challenges Council.
8. Foster an attractive and inclusive ecosystem in the EU. Amongst other instruments, Member States would be required to build ambitious plans for investing in research, technology and innovation.
9. Drive radical simplification, user orientation and efficiency. The Report calls for the elimination of "underperforming" programmes and streamline existing ones.
10. Unleash the power of demand by developing an innovation procurement programme to stimulate faster scaling-up by industry.
11. Adopt a nuanced, granular and purpose-driven approach to international cooperation. The Report reminds policy-makers and scientists that some countries can be partners, competitors or systemic rivals and that the same country could be all of these in different domains of research. This requires us all to ask ourselves key questions concerning international research cooperation.
12. Embrace the fact that dual-use occurs naturally given the ubiquitous nature of modern technology. The lines between research results can be used are blurred, the Report calls for this reality to be taken into consideration.

Where to next?

The Report comes at a critical moment for EU research and innovation. This year, we mark 40 years since the EU's first Framework Programme for funding research and innovation was launched. Negotiations are now underway for the EU's 10th Framework Programme for funding Research and Innovation (FP10). FP10 will commence in 2027.

At the presentation event of the mid-term evaluation of Horizon Europe, EU research and innovation was described as a tree, that needs to be nurtured.

I am looking forward to see how all of us - the European Commission, Member States, universities, research institutes, academics, and private partners - to play our part in ensuring funding for science grows, ensuring it responds to society's challenges.

"Over the past 40 years, EU-funded research and innovation has resulted in major scientific discoveries, breakthroughs in key technologies, substantial economic value and solutions to issues that matter to the people." - Iliana Ivanova, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth.