17 Jun 2025
Researchers and entrepreneurs call for ring-fenced € 220 billion FP10 budget in open letter to EC
Scientists and entrepreneurs, represented amongst others by the Initiative for Science in Europe and other associations, have sent an open letter to the European Commission, the European Parliament and the Member States calling on them to "recognise the importance of a substantial and ring-fenced budget for an EU Research and Innovation Programme, independent from and not “swallowed up” within the Competitiveness Fund".
The open letter claims that safeguarding Europe’s leadership in research and innovation demands a firm and sustained political and financial commitment, starting with the next MFF. The open letter welcomes the announcement of Commission President von der Leyen that FP10 will be a self-standing programme. The letter also addresses the issues of a globally unstable and unpredictable research and innovation climate, academic freedom, budget cuts in research and education at national level, or the focus on defence.
The scientists and entrepreneurs reiterate that "a sustainable, autonomous, and economically sound future for Europe relies on the creation of new knowledge and technologies, requiring substantial investments in research and innovation, as clearly highlighted in the reports from Letta, Draghi, Heitor and Ehler as well as in the Warsaw declaration of research ministers". They also call on the Commission to extrapolate the current focus on Choose Europe in the next MFF period and stress that science and innovation need stable and reliable funding.
Open Letter of scientists and entrepreneurs regarding MFF and FP10