Research Policy Priorities under the New European Commission

As Europe faces ongoing economic challenges and intensifying global competition in technology, the Commission is under increasing pressure to secure long-term competitiveness. With the new Commission in place, we eagerly anticipate a series of proposals that will shape the future policy landscape for research and innovation. The European Association of Research and Technology Organisations (EARTO), including RISE, has already taken the initiative by presenting a series of position papers, offering critical recommendations to guide the next generation of research and innovation policies in Europe. Now the question is whether these recommendations will be taken into account? 

Strengthening the Link between RD&I and Industrial Competitiveness

A central priority for the new European Commission will be how to structure EU policies and programs to ensure that RD&I (Research, Development, and Innovation) investments are directly aligned with Europe’s industrial competitiveness agenda. Research and Technology Organisations (RTOs), including research institutes, are uniquely positioned to support this mission, given their deep expertise in fostering technological innovation across multiple sectors. To contribute to the development of well-structured policies that effectively link the EU’s industrial and research agendas, EARTO has released a series of policy recommendations and position papers during the fall of 2024;  

The Policy Recommendations 2024–2029: No EU Tech, No EU Competitiveness which underscores six pivotal recommendations for leveraging innovation to enhance the EU’s global competitiveness. 

EARTO’s Position Paper on the Next EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) presents proposals on how EU RD&I investments can be strategically focused to elevate Europe’s leadership in technology, boost productivity, and reinforce industrial competitiveness.

EARTO´s insights on the European Commission (EC) Expert Group Report on the Interim Evaluation of Horizon Europe stressing the vital importance of maintaining a robust Horizon Europe with increased budget and strong continuation of Pillar II (global challenges and industrial competitiveness).

Muriel Attané, EARTO’s Secretary General, stresses that "EU competitiveness hinges on robust RD&I investments in collaborative applied research. These RD&I activities carried out under the FP's Pillar 2 play a crucial role in translating research into tangible applications for the EU economy and society. Today, the EU lags behind its international competitors in this type of R&D investment, which is vital for the development and scaling of critical technologies promoted by the Commission and the Draghi report. To address this, the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) must prioritize these RD&I investments while ensuring both flexibility and stability."

Entering a Critical Phase of European Negotiations

With the new European leadership in place, we can expect a wave of new proposals, many of which will be influenced by the high-level report on "The Future of European Competitiveness" by Mario Draghi. This report provides key recommendations to strengthen Europe’s position on the global stage. What we know so far is that the Commission’s new priorities for research and innovation will likely align with some of Draghi’s competitiveness recommendations. However, the outcome will depend heavily on the specifics of the proposals that follow. To support the discussions in the national context, RISE has published an initial analysis of Draghi’s report titled "Stärkt konkurrenskraft genom innovation: en strategisk nödvändighet för Europa" (A Swedish Perspective on Draghi’s Report on the Future of EU Competitiveness). This paper puts forward 11 recommendations aimed at EU policies and programs for research and innovation, including the next generation of the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10).

As the Commission rolls out its new proposals, we hope that many of the points raised in both EARTO’s, and RISE’s early contributions have been considered. However, we will also be closely monitoring the major policy measures expected, with particular focus on the Commission’s forthcoming proposals for a new Competitiveness Fund. Such proposals could involve major changes, including new structures for European programs, leading to intense negotiations in the near future. Therefore, we are likely at the beginning of an intense period that hopefully will shape a more effective and robust landscape for research and innovation policy in the next programming period (2028–2034.

Read our policy report on "The Future of European Competitiveness" report by Mario Draghi: Stärkt konkurrenskraft genom innovation: en strategisk nödvändighet för Europa