In recent years, North America and Asia have significantly increased their investments in research and innovation, leaving Europe at risk of falling behind. To remain competitive and to advance economic, ecological, and societal transitions, bold and immediate steps are required from European nations and the EU to significantly boost their research and innovation (R&I) funding.
The open letter calls for:
- Increase funding for R&I in Europe to over 3% of GDP within the European Union and across European countries.
- Double the budget for the EU's next research and innovation programme (FP10) to 200 billion EUR.
- Protect the latter by ring-fencing the budget.
The letter, signed by prominent figures in the research and innovation community, urges the European Council, Commission, and Parliament, as well as national and regional policymakers, to take bold action. It calls on the entire research and innovation community, society, and the media to support this initiative.
About the #ResearchMatters Campaign:
The #ResearchMatters campaign is a concerted effort by leading research and innovation organizations to advocate for increased investments in research and innovation in Europe. The campaign emphasises the importance of knowledge creation and research-driven innovation in addressing the continent's most pressing challenges and securing a prosperous future for all Europeans.
More information about the campaign and the open letter can be found on the official website research-matters.eu.
The signatories include:
EuroTech Universities Alliance
The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities
and more (see the full list here)
4 June 2024