France-Poland proposal for new Horizon Europe instrument meets mixed response

A new instrument proposed by France and Poland under Horizon Europe has received a mixed reception at the Research Council meeting in Brussels.

At the meeting on 29/05/2026, France and Poland presented a proposal for the "European excellence initiative", a new bottom-up instrument within Pillar 2 of the next research programme, dedicated to collaborative research. Inspired by the French Labex model, this new instrument would provide stable five-year funding and support networks of pan-European laboratories working on themes aligned with our strategic priorities.

"These initiatives would make it possible to secure substantial, long-term funding that goes beyond a purely project-based approach... This concept of revitalising laboratories through structured, thematic initiatives of excellence would also help to combat a form of research fragmentation that stems directly from a funding model based exclusively on projects," Philippe Baptiste, Minister for Higher Education, Research and Space, explained.

Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation…