The European Commission is set to propose a four-pillar architecture for the tenth ‘Horizon Europe’ framework programme, according to a draft legislative text that will be included in the draft post-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) expected on Wednesday 16 July (see EUROPE 13667/29), a copy of which has been obtained by Agence Europe. These four pillars are: excellent science; competitiveness and society; innovation; European Research Area.
In addition to promoting science, protecting core values of independence and openness, improving Europe’s excellent knowledge base and boosting EU competitiveness, this architecture is designed for enhanced coherence and performance of research.
As announced by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in May (see EUROPE 13644/25), ‘Horizon Europe’ will remain an autonomous programme, but closely linked to the ‘European Competitiveness Fund’ (see EUROPE 13677/1).
The first pillar will be made up of the European Research Council (ERC), Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and non-nuclear direct actions of the Joint Research Centre (JRC). The ERC will be expanded to increase its support for frontier research, with a focus on funding excellent researchers and their teams, while MSCA actions will continue to support research training and career development, as part of the ‘Choose Europe for science’ initiative to attract researchers (see EUROPE 13646/17).
The second pillar will encompass research and innovation activities in support of policies under the European Competitiveness Fund, particularly in the areas of clean transition and industrial decarbonisation; health, bioeconomy, and biotechnology; digital leadership; resilience, defence industry and space policy.
The third pillar will include the European Innovation Council (EIC) and innovation ecosystems, including activities to foster the integration of the knowledge triangle – higher education, research and innovation, and business – across the Union.
Finally, the fourth pillar will focus on reforming and strengthening the European R&I system; research and technology infrastructures; and widening participation and spreading excellence.
Read the draft regulations: https://aeur.eu/f/hsn (Original version in French by Anne Damiani, with Mathieu Bion)