EU research ministers discussed the future Horizon Europe framework programme for research and innovation (R&I) at a Council meeting in Brussels, on Friday 23 May (see EUROPE 13646/5). As well as additional funding, they want to facilitate the administrative process and thus the transition from fundamental research to practical application. This would enable the EU to become more competitive.
“Despite the positive assessments, the evaluation [midway through the programme for the period 2021-2027] identifies areas for improvement, in particular the exploitation of knowledge, simplification, but we also have budgetary limits which mean that almost 70% of proposals, which are nonetheless excellent and which would be likely to benefit from funding, do not receive this funding”, the Polish minister, Marcin Kulasek, immediately stressed.
Despite the high quality of these proposals, they would have required an additional €8.2 billion, almost double the budget allocated to date, according to Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation.
To resolve the problem, Anna Maria Bernini, the Italian minister, called for a rationalisation of structures, as well as simplified and accelerated procedures to allow greater participation. “We need to review the whole administrative system for the next framework programme”, she said, suggesting the use of a lump-sum system.
“We need to lighten the regulatory framework, which is an obstacle to market access and international talent. We therefore need to cover the entire territory of the European Union, while respecting a criterion of excellence”, added her Spanish counterpart, Diana Morant.
The Belgian minister, Adrien Dolimont, stressed that the risks of fragmentation and duplication remain. “It is crucial to resolve these problems, in particular by creating a centralised partnership management team”, he suggested. He would also like to see a reduction in the time taken to grant finance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
To achieve the 3% of GDP earmarked for research, the ministers spoke at length about the involvement of the private sector and its collaboration with the public sector. “Given the changing international context, it seems to me that opening up Horizon Europe to the funding of certain dual technologies could make sense. For example, the start-ups funded by the EIC (European Innovation Council) could find growth levers in the defence sector”, proposed the French minister, Philippe Baptiste.
“Funding is not the only lever for action. And that is why next week we will be proposing the ‘Start-up and Scale-up Strategy’ to ensure a breakthrough in disruptive technologies and innovation”, replied the Commissioner (see EUROPE 13640/10). “We need to create an environment conducive to innovation for the benefit of our citizens and businesses to change the course of their lives”, she added. Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that Horizon Europe will remain an autonomous programme, at the Annual EU Budget Conference, on Tuesday 20 May (see EUROPE 13644/25). (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)