Horizon Europe: Experts reaffirm €220bn proposal as Irish Presidency cuts budget by 9.6%

News Tank Academic - Brussels - News #457036 - Published on 14/10/26 at 11:29
©  D.R.
Manuel Heitor - ©  D.R.

A group of experts that evaluated Horizon Europe has issued a "wake-up call for Europe", arguing that their original proposal of €220 billion for the R&I framework programme was "well researched, evidenced and argued and still stands".

Led by Manuel Heitor, former Portuguese Minister for Science, Technology and Higher Education, this group of 15 experts addressed a letter on 13/10/2026 to EU dirigeants arguing that: "Our analysis of October 2024 recommended at least €220bn for FP10. This was before the breakthroughs connected to the successful massive investments in AI in the US and China."

They reacted to the proposed 9.6% cut to Horizon Europe 2028-2034 compared with the European Commission’s July 2025 proposal of €175bn presented by the Irish presidency of the council on 10/10/2026…

©  D.R.
Manuel Heitor - ©  D.R.

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