86 European associations call for a bold FP10
86 European associations representing key RD&I stakeholders, among which POLIS, have signed a letter calling for an ambitious and well-funded tenth Framework Programme for research and innovation (FP10).
On 7 July 2026, a coalition of 86 European associations coordinated by EARTO and BusinessEurope issued a joint declaration urging for a bold FP10 and a strong European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).
This call comes at a turning point for the future of the EU. The Draghi report on European Competitiveness revealed the uncomfortable truth about Europe's competitiveness gap: productivity growth has stalled, and innovation is slowing. The report calls for an additional 800 billion euros per year in investment, with RD&I as the primary driver of sustainable productivity gains.
Innovation-led productivity growth is not merely an economic imperative but the key to Europe's strategic autonomy and twin transition. FP10 is the main instrument to achieve this, as its track record shows it has supported private investment and technology development, overcoming fragmentation among Member States.
Yet, the current EU RD&I spending is wholly insufficient. Meanwhile, the leverage effects of the Framework Programme, demonstrated conclusively by the Horizon 2020 ex-post evaluation, show that every euro of EU public investment generates multiples in private and national co-investment. Cutting the FP10 would undermine the public-private partnerships, technology maturation pipelines, and the talent networks that fuel Europe's productivity growth.
Affirming research and innovation as the drivers of European competitiveness
For these reasons, the coalition calls on EU institutions to:
- increase the budget allocated to FP10 over the Multilateral Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034
- strengthen collaborative, industry-driven RD&I through Pillar II
- ensure that FP10, together with the ECF, supports the full RD&I continuum, aligning strategic priorities and clearly defined industrial needs
Local and regional authorities play a key role in achieving these goals. Regions and cities are the heart of innovation in the EU, as they translate EU objectives into concrete projects and create the conditions to develop, produce, and share knowledge.
The coalition underlines that the window of opportunity is narrow. To ensure that decisions on the NFF taken in the upcoming months contribute to Europe's competitiveness and prosperity, the undersigned associations stand ready to work with the EU institutions to design a bold, well-resourced FP10.
