Whilst we mull over the implications in the UK for the government’s Industrial Policy, and reshaping of organisations such as the UK Space Agency and Alan Turing Institute in the orbit of DSIT (Department of Science, Innovation and Technology), things in Europe have not stood still.
The EU Commission have been preparing for future budgets, featuring the European Competitiveness Fund – for Industrial and Innovation policy support, as well as the future of Horizon Europe, where the current funding programme is scheduled to end in 2027.
The Commission’s current plans (August 2025) envisage FP10 with double the budget of its predecessor, at €175 million. Debate over increased funding for AI and defence have echoed many of those seen in the UK, although deeper calls for independence from US tech has been evidence in the continental debate.
There is debate and mutterings of concern from the research community that segments of the future budget will be subject to management by the Competiveness Fund, with shared rules and obligations.
The Commission seems keen to simplify grant application processes and also look to attract disenchanted researchers from the USA.
It is timely to mention Horizon FP10 since the UK is hosting the annual workshop on the European Research Area in November – in conjunction with Norway. The theme is “Research collaboration, competition, valorisation, and protection in an ERA of uncertainty”. The UK are represented in Science Europe by UKRI.
These are annual sessions which bring together heads of research funding and performing organisations from each of the Horizon member states, political representatives, policy makers, and researchers to focus on four current issues in research and innovation – with specific themes each year.
According to Science Europe, who admittedly are the sponsors, “It is therefore a crucial time for Science Europe to bring together its Member Organisations to discuss and agree on strategic directions for science.”
The material presented in this post has not been peer-reviewed. Any opinions are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of LibSTEMM. The information is given in good faith but without any liability on the part of LibSTEMM. AI tools were not used in the production of this work.
Sources:
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/planning-fp10/six-months-shaped-future-horizon-europe
https://scienceeurope.org/events/high-level-workshop-on-era-2025
https://scienceeurope.org/our-priorities/eu-framework-programmes/fp10-advocacy
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