The Belgian Presidency of the EU Council has unveiled its priorities for research and innovation (R&I). It highlights the opportunities presented by R&I for strengthening European industry, in order to achieve more open strategic autonomy in a wide range of areas.
The Presidency will also consider the potential of R&I to implement the green and digital transition.
In the context of the EU Council’s conclusions, the Belgian Presidency will also continue the work begun under the Spanish Presidency on improving the valorisation of research results (see EUROPE 13309/13).
The Belgian authorities have also set themselves the goal of forging closer links between science, industry, politics and society.
In addition, Belgium will explore ways of strengthening the economic, scientific and societal potential of the Horizon Europe framework programme, as well as its European added value. To do this, it will look at the ex-post studies on the previous Horizon 2020 programme.
Finally, at international level, following on from the Spanish Presidency (see EUROPE 13192/21) and in accordance with the global approach adopted in 2021 (see EUROPE 12786/8), the Belgian Presidency will promote international cooperation based on openness, with partners sharing common standards, guided by the principles of a level playing field and reciprocity.
Finally, Belgium intends to advance research and innovation in the nuclear field, focusing on finding innovative solutions for highly radioactive waste and nuclear testing, as well as the ITER project.
In its programme, the Presidency also mentions the development of radiological and nuclear technologies in the field of healthcare. In this respect, it stresses that the SAMIRA action plan, the strategic agenda for applications using ionising radiation for medical purposes, will play a key role in this area.
Link to the Belgian Presidency programme: https://aeur.eu/f/a4i (Original version in French by Émilie Vanderhulst)