Fueling Europe’s Innovation Engine: Bridging the Research Divide
The race for global innovation dominance is heating up, and Europe faces critical choices concerning the future of its research and development ecosystem.
With the current Horizon Europe programme nearing its end in 2028, discussions are flourishing about what its successor, FP10, should look like. Many regional stakeholders are calling for substantially increased financial support and greater flexibility in the program’s structure, emphasizing the need for accelerated funding and a streamlined application process. These demands were at the forefront of discussions at the 2024 Week of Innovative Regions in Europe (WIRE) conference, a gathering of politicians, researchers, and industry representatives in Budapest under Hungary’s EU presidency.
The Challenges Facing Europe’s Innovation Landscape
Europe faces multiple hurdles on the path to becoming a global innovation powerhouse. Despite boasting a robust research base, Europe’s investment in research and development lags behind other major economies.
"Europe has all the resources to lead the global innovation race, but we also face obstacles," Waters said Signe Ratso, deputy director-general of the European Commission’s research and innovation department. She pointed to Horizon Europe’s current funding allocation, which represents only 2.3% of Europe’s GDP, significantly less than the 5% investment seen in the United States. This disparity in financial commitment underscores a major challenge.
Beyond increased funding, experts emphasize the need for a more unified approach to Europe’s innovation strategy. Manuel Heitor, a leading expert who chaired an independent working group on FP10, urged the EU to prioritize research and innovation as key pillars for economic growth. He called for a €220 billion investment – more than doubling the current budget – to drive innovation and stem the loss of skilled professionals, commonly known as "brain drain," to other regions.
Streamlining Funding and Fostering Regional Equity
The pressure is mounting on policymakers to create a more focused and effective funding framework. Conference participants highlighted the need for streamlining the application process and fostering greater synergy between regional development programs and European research funding. As many have pointed out, overlapping policies and funding programs often overwhelm smaller organizations, particularly those located in "widening countries," which joined the EU since 2004 and are often lagging behind in resources.
A Plea for pragmatism
David Uhlir, chief strategist with the South Moravian Innovation Centre in the Czech Republic, underscored the need for a pragmatically focused approach. He urged policymakers to cease the "mission overload" that burdens researchers and innovators. Instead, the EU should act as a facilitator, assisting entrepreneurs to gain valuable expert insights and access larger markets.
"I’m dogmatic about not confusing innovation with research," explained Uhlir. He pointed to the frequent misconception that amplified research funding automatically translates into valuable innovations.
Bridging the regional divide
The debate also emphasized the importance of ensuring a level playing field for all EU regions. While established regions generally have access to resources and expertise, encompassing smaller regions, particularly those within the EU’s “widening countries,” is vital to unleash the potential of the entire Union research and innovation ecosystem.
Representatives of widening regions stressed the need for targeted funding and support mechanisms to catch up. Joanna Kubiak, representing Poland’s Wielkopolska Region, warned of an
"innovation divide" which hinders the growth and development of emerging innovation hubs beyond the more established European innovation ecosystems,"
She urged policymakers to remember that while streamlining programs can bring efficiency, there’s a risk of excluding critical regional initiatives. The message was clear – maintaining
How can FP10 effectively streamline its funding process to encourage greater participation from researchers and innovators?
## Fueling Europe’s Innovation Engine: Bridging the Research Divide
**Host:** Welcome back to the show. Today, we’re diving into the crucial topic of Europe’s future in the global innovation race. Joining us is [Guest Name], a leading expert on research and development policy in Europe. [Guest name], thank you for being here.
**Guest:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** So, Europe’s research and innovation programme Horizon Europe is drawing to a close in 2028. The conversation is heating up on what its successor, FP10, should look like. What are the key challenges and opportunities you see?
**Guest:** Absolutely. Europe has a world-class research base, but we’re lagging behind other major economies like the US in terms of investment in R&D. As Signe Ratso from the European Commission pointed out, we’re only investing 2.3% of our GDP in research, compared to the US’s 5% [ [2](https://ert.eu/documents/europes-next-framework-programme-for-research-and-innovation-fp10-needs-a-major-upgrade/)]. This gap needs to be closed if we want to remain competitive. FP10 needs
to significantly ramp up funding, potentially even doubling the current budget as Manuel Heitor, who chaired an independent working group on FP10, has suggested.
**Host:** You mentioned “brain drain”. Can you elaborate on that?
**Guest:** Absolutely. We’re seeing talented researchers and innovators leave Europe for opportunities elsewhere because of better funding and prospects. FP10 needs to incentivize these individuals to stay and contribute to Europe’s innovation ecosystem.
**Host:** Along with funding, what other changes are essential for FP10 to be successful?
**Guest:** Streamlining the funding process is critical. Currently, it’s complex and bureaucratic, which can discourage applicants. We also need better coordination between regional development programs and European research funding to avoid duplication and wasted resources.
**Host:** So, a more unified and focused approach is crucial?
**Guest:** Precisely. Manuel Heitor emphasized this need for a more strategic, pan-European approach to innovation. We need to ensure that FP10 is truly aligned with Europe’s broader economic goals, and that it supports key sectors where Europe has a competitive advantage.
**Host:** It sounds like FP10 has the potential to be a game-changer for Europe.
**Guest:** Absolutely. The decisions made now will have a profound impact on Europe’s future. We need bold leadership and a commitment to making Europe a global leader in innovation.
**Host:** Thank you for sharing your insights, [Guest name].
**Guest:** My pleasure.
