On 7 July, Carbon Management Europe joined 85 European associations representing key RD&I stakeholders in calling on EU Institutions to act with commensurate ambition in designing and funding the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10).
The signatories fully endorse the Draghi Report on European Competitiveness, which highlights that research, development and innovation (RD&I) are essential to restoring Europe's competitiveness and driving sustainable growth. Europe stands at a decisive juncture: the report lays bare a stark reality; Europe's productivity growth has stalled, its innovation gap with the United States and China is widening, and the continent risks a slow but irreversible decline in its economic standing.
At the same time, the Competitiveness Compass and the EU’s political guidelines place RD&I at the heart of Europe’s strategy to reverse this trend.
Decisions taken in the coming months on the next MFF will determine whether Europe has the RD&I firepower to compete globally and sustain its prosperity. The undersigned associations stand ready to work with EU Institutions to design an FP10 that is bold, well-resourced, and fit to deliver the innovation-driven productivity growth Europe urgently needs.
Coordinated by Business Europe and EARTO, the letter calls on EU Institutions to:
Allocate a substantially increased budget to FP10
Commensurate with the ambition set out in the Draghi report and the Competitiveness Compass, over the 2028–2034 MFF period.
Reinforce collaborative, industry-driven RD&I through a strengthened Pillar II
Ensure that public-private partnerships continue to reduce investment risk, accelerate technology maturation and translate research excellence into market-ready innovations that boost productivity.
Ensure FP10, together with European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), supports the full RD&I continuum
From fundamental research to deployment and scale-up, aligned with EU strategic priorities and clearly defined industrial needs, including the green and digital transitions and European security and resilience. Preserving a strong ECF and FP10, both in terms of budget and in terms of governance and synergies between the two programmes is essential to support the entire innovation cycle, strengthen Europe’s industrial base, and deliver on the Union’s competitiveness objectives.