On Friday 1 December, European ministers for research debated the future 9th framework research and development programme (FRDP), which is due to take over from the Horizon 2020 programme after 2020.
The Estonian Minister, Mailis Reps, said this ministerial debate was a “simple warm up” for the “intense and sometimes passionate” discussions the member states will have to define the parameters of the 9th framework programme.
Discussions focused on the definition of the party missions of the future programme and the societal, economic and environmental challenges of our time, as recommended in the Lamy Report in July (see EUROPE 11821). Sweden, for example said it was necessary to make a link between the sustainability objectives of the United Nations. Denmark and Germany highlighted the importance of the research programme supporting exclusively civilian projects.
The European Commissioner for Research, Carlos Moedas, said that in order to shift from one programme to another, “they need an evolution not a revolution, so that did not change what was working”. He called on the member states to carry out an internal reflection by the end of the year in an effort to identify the crucial missions in the future framework programme. The Commission is expected to present the first lessons from this reflection in March 2018.
The ministers also adopted lengthy conclusions on the positive experience acquired through the implementation of the Horizon 2020 programme. The text highlights the importance of simplifying the funding landscape and to improve support for the whole value creation chain.
Several joint declarations were annexed to the conclusions. A first declaration signed by Spain, Poland and Slovenia, underlines the importance of harmonising the financial rules in order to better combine support from the research programme and structural funds. Another document signed by Romania, Hungary, Slovakia and Latvia call for measures to be presented to facilitate participation of countries from most recent enlargement processes.
France wanted the ninth framework research programme to enable Europe to become competitive in breakthrough innovation. It also believes it necessary to bring research programmes and education in the EU closer together.
To see the conclusions conclusions please see: http://bit.ly/2nlyim7 (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)