Call on EU institutions « to reaffirm and strengthen early-stage collaborative R&I funding within FP10 »

12 research and education associations in Brussels « call on the European Commission, European Parliament and Member States to reaffirm and strengthen the key role of early-stage collaborative R&I funding within FP10 », on 11/07/2025, in the context of the imminent proposals by the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10).

« Early-stage collaborative research and innovation, taking place before market competition and focused on low- to mid-Technology and Societal Readiness Levels (TRLs/SRLs), is the backbone of Europe’s capacity to generate new knowledge, develop enabling technologies, and build shared infrastructures that underpin entire sectors. Early-stage collaborative research is essential in shaping Europe’s ability to address global challenges, reinforce strategic autonomy and sustain long-term competitiveness », they state.

FP10 should be improved in this respect and « must address current structural weaknesses in Horizon Europe’s Pillar II » :

• "excessive complexity,
• rigid consortium requirements,
• a…