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We must protect the European R&I model built on independence, openness and curiosity-driven inquiry. Otherwise, the current drive to boost the EU’s competitiveness may weaken the foundation of Europe’s economic strengths, writes Kamila Kozirog in Research Europe.
After months of uncertainty and speculation, the recent reassurances from Ursula von der Leyen that FP10 will not be absorbed into a European Competitiveness Fund come as a very welcome and reassuring step. However, despite this encouraging news, the risk has not entirely vanished. FP10 must not be reduced to a simple tool of competitiveness policy. It must remain a strategic driver of knowledge creation, breakthrough innovation and societal progress.
As Kamila writes, the R&I framework programme’s strength lies in its independence, commitment to excellence, mix of bottom-up and top-down approaches and long-term, collaborative model for solving Europe’s most complex challenges. Rather than pursuing structural changes that may dilute these strengths, the Commission should reinforce what is already proven to work.
The full article is available on Research Professional News: Stand-alone FP10 is welcome, but it needs to be strong
