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DRAFT REPORT (2024/2109(INI))

On the assessment of the implementation of Horizon Europe in view of its interim evaluation and recommendations for the 10th Research Framework Programme

ITRE-PR-765325

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy · Rapporteur: Christian Ehler

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Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

This draft report assesses Horizon Europe's implementation and makes recommendations for the 10th Framework Programme (FP10). It calls for stopping mission funding under Horizon Europe, reducing lump-sum funding, and introducing a 'Choose Europe' co-funding line. For FP10, it recommends a stand-alone programme with a higher budget, focusing on three core objectives, and a redesigned governance with self-governance and councils. It also recommends that FP10 include a European fellowship for researchers at risk, an expanded ERC and EIC with half the budget, and strategic initiatives with budgets between EUR 2.5 and 5 billion.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes a resolution that assesses Horizon Europe critically and makes detailed recommendations for FP10, including a higher budget, simplified implementation, and a restructured programme with three parts.

Key points

  1. Regrets that Horizon Europe implementation has increased complexity and bureaucracy, with low success rates in some parts discouraging excellent applications.
  2. Calls for stopping further funding of missions under the 2025, 2026 and 2027 work programmes, and encourages funding their continuation from other EU budget parts or national level.
  3. Insists that the Commission reduce lump-sum funding until evidence shows it simplifies for beneficiaries over the full project life cycle, including audits.
  4. Supports the urgent introduction of a 'Choose Europe' co-funding line to turn brain drain into brain gain by 2035, implemented from 2025.
  5. Calls for FP10 to be a stand-alone programme with a substantially higher budget, funding at least 75% of excellent proposals, and focusing on three core objectives.
  6. Recommends user-oriented, science-led implementation with redesigned governance based on self-governance, and setting up four councils including a European technology and industrial competitiveness council.
  7. Recommends including programme managers and external experts as special advisers to the Commissioner to manage project portfolios and set challenges.
  8. Recommends that the ERA part of FP10 build an excellent, unified ERA, attracting talent, integrating newcomers, and developing European universities alliances into scientific institutes.
  9. Believes this part should include a European fellowship programme for researchers at risk, learning from the ongoing preparatory action.
  10. Recommends that an expanded ERC and EIC be at the heart of the competition of ideas part, receiving half of the FP10 budget, with strengthened autonomy and self-governance.
  11. Urges the Commission to design the strategic deployment part to focus on a limited number of pan-European initiatives with 2040 time horizon, with budgets between EUR 2.5 and 5 billion.

Who is affected

  • Researchers and innovators in the EU, who may benefit from reduced bureaucracy and more funding opportunities under FP10.
  • Beneficiaries of Horizon Europe missions, whose funding may stop from 2025, but may continue from other sources.
  • The European Research Council and European Innovation Council, which would be expanded and receive half of FP10 budget.
  • Researchers at risk, who would be supported by a new European fellowship programme.

Figures and deadlines

  • EUR 200 billion and EUR 220 billion recommended budgets for FP10 by the Draghi and Heitor reports respectively.
  • At least 75% of excellent proposals to be funded under FP10.
  • Half of the FP10 budget for the competition of ideas part.
  • Between EUR 2.5 and 5 billion for each strategic initiative.
  • 3% GDP spending target for R&D.
  • 2035 as the target year for turning brain drain into brain gain.
  • 2040 as the time horizon for strategic initiatives.

Legal basis: Articles 101 to 109 and Article 173 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union