According to an internal memo, the European Commission proposes consolidating existing research and innovation funds, including the European Research Council (ERC) and European Innovation Council (EIC), into a unified European Competitiveness Fund. Expected to launch under the next multiannual budget in 2028, this “mega-fund” aims to simplify and strengthen EU initiatives for innovation, productivity, and economic growth.
Currently, about a dozen programs work independently, but the Commission’s budget directorate argues they are burdened with excessive rules, gaps, and overlapping objectives, which hinder the ability of industries to effectively access funding. The proposed Competitiveness Fund would replace these complex structures with a single governance model, standardized eligibility criteria, and unified rules for third-party participation.
The idea for this reform follows a report by EU economic expert Mario Draghi, which underscored Europe’s lagging productivity and economic growth, attributed to insufficient investment in science and technology and the complexity of operating within 27 national jurisdictions. The Commission believes a streamlined fund could counter these issues by centralizing resources and setting a focused, growth-oriented policy agenda.
Johan Elvnert, Secretary General of the Forest-based Sector Technology Platform, welcomes the initiative by the Commission to reduce complexity and strengthen the focus on competitiveness in the next EU Research & Innovation Budget.
“While we have seen the number of initiatives grow steadily under the Horizon Europe Programme, the needs of European businesses have not been met. The EU Green Deal set out for the EU to become carbon neutral until 2050. These bold targets require completely new and carbon neutral technologies as well as de-risking of investments. The outcome for Europe if the EU Research & Innovation Programmes is not able to offer this will be that production moves to other regions in the world, with dire economic consequences for the EU and without accomplishing anything for the Climate. We have to see the details of the final proposal, but consolidating the EUs support to research and innovation while at the same time strengthening the focus on competitiveness sounds like a very good idea”
Source: Science Business
