Designing the European Competitiveness Fund: Key elements and the FP10–ECF interface
25 February 2026
The Coimbra Group, together with its partners from leading university and research umbrella organisations, speaks with one strong and united voice on the future of European research, innovation and competitiveness.
In a joint sectoral statement, the signatories set out a shared vision for the new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) and its connection with the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10), calling for two autonomous and complementary programmes, connected through a clear and well-designed interface that preserves the purpose and strengths of FP10.
The statement underlines that FP10 must remain the EU’s main instrument for excellent research and innovation, while the ECF should focus on scale-up, deployment and competitiveness, working in synergy with FP10. The statement builds on the joint amendments to the FP10 regulation proposal, published in December 2025.
Universities and other research-performing organisations must be able to participate in both programmes across the entire research and innovation continuum.
At the same time, the Coimbra Group and its partners express concern that the European Commission’s proposal remains unclear on the FP10-ECF linkages, creating risks for governance and effectiveness. Clearer mechanisms and governance arrangements are therefore essential.
Commenting on the joint position, Ludovic Thilly, Executive Board Chair of the Coimbra Group, said: “We are proud to stand united as a sector and to speak with one voice. FP10 and the European Competitiveness Fund must be autonomous and complementary programmes, connected through effective and predictable pathways. This complementarity must also extend to Erasmus+. Researchers and universities indeed need coherent routes across FP10, the ECF and Erasmus+ to fully mobilise knowledge, talent and innovation for Europe’s long-term competitiveness.”
Together, the signatories support:
- a strong and well-designed FP10-ECF connection,
- a governance model built on two parallel and regularly interacting strategic stakeholder boards, composed of experts from various sectors, including researchers across appropriate disciplines,
- concrete operational measures to ensure that the ECF-FP10 connection work in practice,
- an ECF that boosts Europe’s long-term competitiveness and prosperity, but being firmly anchored in Europe’s social model.
The Coimbra Group remains committed to working constructively with its partners to help the European Commission and the co-legislators shape the best possible funding instruments for research and innovation for 2028-2034.
Download the full statement
