Blog post by Stephen Wyber
Champions Research Funding—But Ignores a Critical Gap
The Warsaw Declaration on the strategic role of the future EU Research and Innovation (R&I) framework programme provides a first indication of the collective priorities for the European Union’s (EU) Member States for work on research in early 2025.
With Poland leading the current EU Council Presidency trio (followed by Denmark and Cyprus), these themes are likely to shape research and innovation discussions until mid-2026. So what insights can we draw from the Declaration?
Strong Support for Independent Research Funding
A key point already highlighted in the media is the emphasis on maintaining independent research funding through a dedicated framework programme, rather than merging it into a wider Competitiveness Fund. Indeed, Ministers make clear that no future initiatives should be funded at the expense of the next framework programme.
Other areas of focus are as expected—support for transnational research programmes within Europe, a call to balance competitiveness with addressing global and social challenges, and a priority for improving working conditions for researchers. While there is no reference to the ‘fifth freedom’ (freedom of movement of knowledge) this time, the Declaration underscores the need to strengthen the European Research Area.
Missing Elements and Policy Gaps
Some themes from an earlier draft of the Declaration (as reported by Science Business) did not make it into the final version. These include:
- Concerns over the ‘innovation gap’ between Europe and other global powers
- Proposals to pool research and innovation investments
- Greater focus on knowledge transfer and valorisation
One critical issue missing from the Declaration—which we have previously advocated for—is better coordination between funding programmes and legislation. The Declaration—and similar texts in the past—is strong on promoting coordination between national and European initiatives, as well as between different European programmes. However, it fails to acknowledge the importance of ensuring that EU laws facilitate the work of researchers benefitting from EU funding.
This is referenced, slightly tangentially, in the draft Recommendation on the next European Research Area Policy Agenda, as well as in a European Parliament resolution (para 61) but it is arguably time for a stronger connection between discussions about funding and the legislative environment in which funded projects take place.
The Need for Broader Policy Support
The Declaration calls for simplifying rules and reducing administrative burdens—a priority that should extend beyond grant applications and reporting to all regulations impacting research and the libraries that support it.
It also reaffirms that ‘the Framework Programme is instrumental for the Union’s political and policy priorities’. We can only hope that moving forward, it will make clear that the EU’s wider political and policy choices also need to support the effectiveness of Framework Programme funding.
13 March 2025
