ExclusiveR&I: "We need to accelerate the mechanisms, beyond merely expanding available funding" (M. Heitor)

"We live in a time of rapid and disruptive change, where the connection between groundbreaking innovation and fundamental research is increasingly swift. This presents a challenge because most European programmes are often slower than necessary to address these emerging opportunities. We need to accelerate the mechanisms in Europe, beyond merely expanding available funding", states Manuel Heitor, chair of the High-Level Group in charge of the mid-term evaluation of Horizon Europe and former Portuguese minister, to News Tank on 18/06/2024.

This group consists of 15 members from diverse backgrounds, including academia, business, RTOs and different regions across Europe. They are tasked with producing a report by October 2024.

"The previous high-level group, led by Pascal Lamy, produced a report that remains pertinent today. However, new challenges have since emerged. Two significant developments, in particular, have reshaped Europe: the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

We are situating our analysis within this context, while also recognizing that R&D…