UK Government’s Position on EU’s Next Research and Innovation Framework Programme

The UK government has recently released a position paper on FP10, the EU’s upcoming research and innovation framework programme, stating its potential interest in associating to it.

The UK is keen to continue collaborating with the EU through FP10, assuming it provides good value for the UK taxpayer and research community. Having only recently rejoined the Horizon programme, it advocates for evolution rather than revolution in the upcoming FP10, emphasising that the current framework functions efficiently. It stresses the importance of the European Research Council and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions preserving their current budget, as they contribute significantly to international recognition of Europe’s research strengths. The paper presents the UK’s position that excellence should remain the primary focus, and while providing funding to lagging countries is crucial for enhancing Europe’s potential, widening participation alone cannot close the innovation gap.

According to the paper, the UK further advocates for the continuation of European partnerships while acknowledging that the current network of collaborations can sometimes be overly complex. The UK urges FP10 to remove barriers to collaboration, ensuring equal participation. While it is crucial to protect research from misuse, it is equally important to ensure this does not shut down genuine opportunities for cooperation. It also supports the review and reduction of administrative burdens overall, with the aim of increasing participation in FP10.