Call for €200B Boost in EU Research
- Policymakers in Europe emphasize the necessity of investing in research and innovation to secure the future.
- Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta advocates for a 'fifth freedom' that would enhance education and research.
- Mario Draghi supports a strategic prioritization of research to ensure Europe's competitiveness.
Former Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta has advocated for a "fifth freedom" to enhance research, innovation, and education within the EU, a sentiment echoed by Mario Draghi. Both leaders emphasize the necessity for the EU to prioritize research and innovation to maintain competitiveness against global powers like the United States and China, the latter of which has recently surpassed the EU in research spending as a percentage of GDP. The Nature Index 2024 highlights that seven of the top ten research institutions are now located in China, underscoring the urgency for Europe to bolster its research capabilities. In response to these challenges, European research and industry groups are proposing a budget of approximately €200 billion for Framework Programme 10. This funding aims to facilitate significant investments in groundbreaking technologies and the training of future researchers. However, the critical issue remains: where will this funding come from? Despite the political will to invest, concrete solutions from EU leaders and stakeholders are still lacking. The EU's "Next Generation EU" initiative, launched in 2020, provided additional funding through bond sales, contributing to a total budget of around €702 billion. However, historical budget negotiations suggest that net-paying countries are likely to resist increasing their contributions, and cuts to existing expenditures are improbable. A potential solution gaining traction is the re-nationalization of research funding through thematic partnerships, which may favor wealthier member states capable of co-funding. As the EU grapples with a range of challenges, often referred to as a polycrisis, the need for substantial investment in research and innovation has never been more pressing. The failure of many EU countries to meet the 3% GDP investment target for research, set in 2002, further complicates the situation, highlighting the urgency for a strategic approach to secure Europe's future in the global research landscape.