Support for excellence, sustainability, and innovation
The proposed budget increase is a signal that the European Commission, inspired by Draghi, Heitor and Letta, recognises research and innovation as essential for Europe’s long-term competitiveness, sustainability and prosperity. It is essential that this renewed commitment strengthens all four pillars of Horizon Europe: Pillar I: Excellent Science, Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Pillar III: Innovative Europe, and Pillar IV: European Research Area. Neth-ER stresses the need for sufficient funding for Pillar I to safeguard frontier, bottom-up research, as well as for Pillar II, now closely linked and steered by the new European Competitiveness Fund, which must retain scientific independence and a balanced focus between societal and industrial priorities. The budgets should be ringfenced in order to ensure stability. We remain attentive to the governance structure of Pillar II, and emphasise the importance of clear, science-driven decision-making that ensures transparency, stakeholder involvement and balanced priority-setting. Neth-ER supports the Commission’s commitment to strengthening Pillar III and the reconsideration of its content by integrating the knowledge triangle within the Innovation Ecosystems. We look forward to further clarification of the budget distribution across the four pillars, which will be essential to fully assess how this proposal supports a balanced and impactful research and innovation landscape.
A financial boost for Europe's knowledge and innovation agenda
Building on this strengthened commitment to all four pillars of Horizon Europe, the proposed 175 billion budget represents a significant reinforcement of the European research and innovation agenda. At the press conference, the increase was described as a doubling of the current Horizon budget; however, when adjusted for inflation and other factors, this does not fully reflect the actual change. Nevertheless, we welcome the budget growth as a much-needed step forward for the European knowledge and innovation agenda. In an era where geopolitical, technological, and societal challenges continue to grow, a robust commitment to research and innovation is not just beneficial - it is essential for Europe’s resilience and strategic autonomy. We consider it crucial that this increased investment translates into balanced support across the entire research and innovation chain, from curiosity-driven science to application and scale-up.
Double Knowledge
In our campaign Double Knowledge, Neth-ER urges the European Union to back its strategic words with real financial commitment. For years, we have heard strong statements about the importance of research, innovation, and education. In a world where the pace of change is unforgiving, investing in knowledge is not optional; it is Europe’s best strategy for resilience, autonomy, and global relevance. This proposal marks a step in the right direction, but if Europe is serious about achieving its ambitions in competitiveness, sustainability and strategic autonomy, even this increased investment will not be sufficient. Sustained political will and smart implementation will be essential to truly strengthen the knowledge ecosystem at every level.
