More funding for R&I needed in the next EU budget
29 April 2026
On 20 April 2026, the Coimbra group co-organised the event “R&I in the next EU budget: investing in Europe’s prosperity and competitiveness” under the auspices of MEP Carla Tavares, co-rapporteur on the next Multi Financial Framework 2028 – 2034 (MFF), gathering 50 participants on site and around 180 participants online.
MEP Carla Tavares opened the meeting, explaining the key priorities for the rapporteurs in relation the next MFF, the main issues raised during the discussion among the European Parliament and the other EU Institutions, and the MFF timeline. Then Manuel Heitor, Professor at the Instituto Superior Técnico (Lisbon), former Chair and lead author of Commission Expert Group on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe, took the floor and presented what makes investment in FP10 financially strategic for Europe.
The panel discussion, moderated by YERUN Secretary General Silvia Gómez Recio, brought together Lina Galvez (member of the European Parliament, shadow rapporteur FP10 Regulation), Bertrand Bouchet (CEA Representative in Brussels), Magnus Madfors (Vice President, Head of Standard & Industry Initiatives Europe & Africa Group Function Technology, Ericsson). As representative from the university sector, Professor Luc Sels, President of the Executive Board of our CG member Leiden University, highlighted that predictability is a key condition for ambitious programmes like FP10. It is key to have a good balance for building strong research and innovation ecosystems, at all stages of R&I, from knowledge creation to innovation uptake and scale-up. FP10 creates something that no national programme can do alone: create European scale, connectivity and leverage. A strong FP10 with robust funding is not a sectorial request from universities: it is essential for whole Europe’s competitiveness, resilience, preparedness, health and the green and digital transitions.
In their closing remarks, two members of the European Parliament, shared their views on the relevance of FP10 in the present policy context, and the need for investments in R&I. MEP René Repasi (ITRE Member, rapporteur for Specific Programme implementing the FP10) confirmed that FP10 is an enabler for many other policy priorities, but he is well aware of possible cuttings by the Council to the €220 billion budget, proposed by the Parliament. He also remembered the need for national and EU funding: Europe R&I needs both, and that researchers must be central in the design of FP10 to trigger cooperation (a clear hint to the proposed sectorial plans at EU level). MEP Hélder Sousa Silva (BUDG Member, rapporteur for the budgetary assessment of the next FP10) confirmed that FP10 is a flagship programme for the EU, an important enabler for R&I investments. He wants to ensure that FP10 decommitments will stay in the same programme, and that budget flexibility is balanced by predictability in allocation.
The event builds on the results of the Research Matters campaign, and it is a starting point for further exchanges with the Parliament and other stakeholders. The co-organisers with Coimbra Group were CESAER, the Guild, LERU and YERUN, with the collaboration of AURORA, ECIU, EUA, EURASHE, Eurotech, UAS4Europe, UNICA. You can find further insights on the discussion on R&I investments in this article by Science|Business.