25 Jun 2026
Science Europe supports new instrument for collaborative bottom-up research in FP10
Science Europe has renewed its call for stronger support for bottom-up, curiosity-driven research, stressing that long-term competitiveness and breakthrough innovation depend on fundamental, open-ended science.
In the context of discussions on Horizon Europe 2028–2034, Science Europe welcomes plans to support this type of research in the next Framework Programme and points to the need for a new dedicated instrument for bottom-up collaborative research and innovation. According to the organisation, existing Horizon Europe schemes mainly support single beneficiaries or only limited collaboration, leaving early-stage, researcher-driven cooperation underused.
Science Europe argues that a new programme component, separate from and complementary to current instruments, could generate strong European added value. It would support open-ended, interdisciplinary collaboration, strengthen research networks across countries, and reinforce the European Research Area.
The proposed instrument could also help build scientific capacity, attract talent, encourage balanced brain circulation, and create opportunities for excellent researchers and institutions across Europe and Associated Countries.
Science Europe underlines that further analysis is needed to explore the best design for such an instrument and says it is ready to contribute to this work and to a broader dialogue on the future of bottom-up collaborative research in Europe.
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