Science Europe contributes to the development of the European Research Area and shaping the future of research, including the next Horizon Europe programme and the global research agenda
Q. How can advocating for science and the scientific community contribute to building the European Research Area and shaping the global scientific agenda?
At a time of great geopolitical instability and rapid technological change, advocating for science and the scientific community is not simply about securing funding or visibility. It is about shaping the conditions under which scientific knowledge is produced, shared, and trusted – within Europe and globally. That science is recognised as a global public good by the United Nations reinforces the need for strong, open, and well-supported research systems. In this sense, therefore, advocacy for the research sector plays a central role in strengthening the European Research Area (ERA) and positioning Europe as a reliable and responsible actor on the global scientific stage.
Europe’s next Research and Innovation Framework programme, Horizon Europe 2028-2034, is one of the most powerful instruments to achieve this ambition. With its emphasis on scientific excellence, and its fundamentally collaborative nature, it enables researchers to work across borders, disciplines and sectors. Its openness, including the possibility of association with non-European Union (EU) countries, extends this collaboration globally, reinforcing Europe’s role as a hub for international scientific co-operation.
Crucially, the programme complements national research programmes, helping to build a more integrated and resilient research ecosystem. Through its hallmark ‘bottom-up’ excellence-driven instruments, the European Research Council (ERC) and the Marie Sklodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) support both fundamental science and the development of scientific talent. Their bottom-up nature ensures that excellence remains the main criterion – the foundation for Europe’s global competitiveness in research.
Yet the success of the current Horizon Europe programme, which runs until 2027, also highlights its limitations. The number of unsuccessful applications demonstrates that excellence in Europe exceeds the programme’s current capacity. According to the 2025 mid-term evaluation of Horizon Europe, nearly seven out of ten high-quality proposals did not receive funding due to insufficient budget. This points to a long-term, structural under-investment in research and innovation.
Q. How can the ambitious next Framework Programme, Horizon Europe 2028-2034, help develop excellence throughout the European Research Area?
As discussions on the next Framework Programme, Horizon Europe 2028-2034, gather pace, there is a clear need for greater ambition – both in financial terms and in safeguarding the principles that underpin scientific excellence. The programme must also respond to evolving global realities, including a renewed focus on economic competitiveness and research security. However, addressing these priorities should not come at the expense of openness in research, academic freedom, and reciprocity in research collaboration. Europe’s strength lies precisely in its ability to balance these dimensions – maintaining an open research system while ensuring responsible and secure co-operation.
Advocacy by R&I public stakeholder organisations, such as Science Europe, is therefore critical. A robust, well-governed and adequately-funded Framework Programme is essential to sustaining Europe’s global leadership in research and innovation. This requires a budget of at least €200 billion, reinforced protections for bottom-up fundamental research, and a clear distinction between a self-standing R&I programme and other EU programmes focused on different priorities.
At the same time, the development of the ERA is entering a new phase. The upcoming ‘ERA Act’ is a unique opportunity to create a legal instrument to improve conditions for research and innovation in Europe. If designed appropriately, it will address persistent challenges impacting research and innovation, including fragmented research systems, under-investment in research and innovation, and barriers to mobility.
Additionally, the ERA Act is a valuable opportunity to reinforce core European values such as academic freedom, research integrity, and equality, diversity, and inclusion, and to support the development of open and positive research cultures.
Here again, advocacy from the R&I public stakeholder sector is essential. The ERA Act must contribute to building a supportive framework that enables progress while avoiding premature or overregulation. It also reinforces the link between European and global agendas, recognising that today’s research challenges, such as climate change or public health, require coordinated international efforts.
Ultimately, building the ERA and shaping the global scientific agenda are deeply interconnected goals. A strong, values-based, and well-funded European research system would not only benefit Europe’s citizens but also contribute to making research knowledge
globally available to define new solutions to our challenges. Sustained advocacy for science, grounded in excellence, integrity, openness, responsibility, and a firm commitment to academic freedom, is therefore essential to ensuring that Europe continues to lead in both.
Further information
Science Europe is the organisation representing major public organisations that fund and perform excellent, ground-breaking research in Europe. It brings together the expertise of some of the largest and most respected European research organisations to jointly push the frontiers of how scientific research is produced and delivers benefits to society.
