The vision of the EAIC on the future European budget
Actualmente, como Director de Asuntos Europeos en Euro-Funding, cuento con más de 14 años de experiencia en análisis e incidencia política pública europea, especialmente en los sectores de las energías renovables y solar. Dirijo la oficina de representación en Bruselas, establecida en 2022, centrada en programas de financiación europeos como Horizonte Europa y el Fondo de Innovación. También soy miembro del Consejo de Administración de la EAIC, donde colidero el Grupo de Trabajo del Fondo de Innovación y contribuyo activamente a iniciativas de incidencia relacionadas con las negociaciones del presupuesto de la UE para 2028-2034.
Apasionado por la cooperación y la coordinación, me esfuerzo por establecer alianzas estratégicas y supervisar análisis competitivos detallados en toda Europa. Mi función también incluye la gestión de proyectos financiados por la UE para E.DSO, desde la formación de equipos hasta la gestión financiera. Mi objetivo es seguir impulsando el crecimiento de nuestras actividades en Europa, a la vez que reforzo nuestra posición en el ecosistema europeo de innovación e investigación.
EAIC, the European Association of Innovation Consultants, has published a position paper analysing the European Commission’s proposals for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034), as well as the future European Competitiveness Fund and the new National and Regional Partnership Plans. This analysis comes at a key moment in the strategic debate on the design of the next long-term EU budget and the central role that research and innovation must play in strengthening Europe’s autonomy and competitiveness. Marie Latour, European Affairs Director at Euro-Funding’s Brussels office, is a member of the association’s Board and coordinated the drafting of this position.
The paper presents the sector’s views on these financial instruments, with particular attention to the future EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), and the new National and Regional Partnership Plans. In preparing the document, EAIC draws on the practical experience of its members in managing and implementing EU-funded projects across a wide range of sectors and countries.
“The next MFF has the potential to significantly strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and innovation capacity. Its success will depend on the scale and design of the budget, on well-aligned instruments, and on strong regional collaboration to ensure that research, innovation and industrial scale-up work effectively together,” said Marie Latour, Member of the EAIC Board.
The paper also sets out a series of concrete recommendations to ensure that the future funding architecture delivers maximum impact. In this respect, EAIC calls for a more integrated system linking research, innovation, industrial deployment and territorial development.
More funding for Horizon Europe
As regards Horizon Europe, EAIC believes that its budget should reach at least €200 billion. It also supports maintaining the current programme structure, simplifying the rules, and improving governance.
Another key point highlighted is the importance of strengthening the predictability of multiannual calls, while preserving the integrity of project evaluation through stable award criteria and transparent procedures. EAIC also calls for greater clarity on issues such as lump-sum funding, international cooperation, and research security.
Key priorities for the new fund to boost Europe’s technological leadership
With regard to the ECF, EAIC acknowledges the importance of the fund in strengthening Europe’s technological leadership. However, it also identifies major design risks. Although the proposed regulation allows for greater flexibility in budget allocation, frequent changes in funding priorities may undermine industry’s willingness to commit resources.
EAIC also proposes that evaluation criteria should be set out at regulatory level and that calls should be published further in advance. In addition, it stresses the need for explicit guidance on Technology Readiness Levels linked to each funding instrument. It also calls for clearer definitions of co-financing mechanisms, which currently leave room for differing interpretations.
Another of EAIC’s main recommendations is to establish a clear distinction between research instruments and implementation-oriented instruments, while at the same time ensuring an effective transition between the two.
Collaboration in future national and regional plans
EAIC welcomes the Commission’s proposal to create these plans for investments and reforms to be prepared by Member States in support of cohesion policy. At the same time, it expresses concern about the limited role currently assigned to regions in the planning, implementation and monitoring of funds.
EAIC underlines the need to formalise the role of regions in order to ensure fair, place-based and innovation-driven investment strategies within the new framework. The proposed merger of distinct policy strands such as the Common Agricultural Policy, Cohesion Policy and the Common Fisheries Policy into a single planning framework could create internal competition between objectives and weaken their territorial focus.
In this context, EAIC stresses that the effective functioning of these plans will depend on maintaining a strong link between EU governance and regional and local authorities.
Ultimately, the purpose of this paper is to support EU institutions, Member States and stakeholders in shaping a new Multiannual Financial Framework that is ambitious, accessible, and capable of driving long-term competitiveness and innovation across Europe.
If you want, I can also make it a little more polished and “website-ready” by giving it a slightly more corporate Euro-Funding tone.
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