WG EU RD&I Programmes

EARTO Working Group on the EU RD&I Programmes is composed of more than 160 experts. This WG is looking at the implementation of the FPs (Horizon Europe), focusing on monitoring its elaboration and simplification. EARTO WG EU RD&I Programmes is also looking at how RTOs can be involved in and benefit from projects under the European Structural and Investment Funds, but also the role of RTOs in Smart Specialisation Strategies as well as the synergies between the Cohesion Policy and the EU RD&I Programmes.

Key Topics for 2024

  • Horizon Europe: following implementation, Clusters/KETs, Partnerships, Missions, EIC, EIT, etc, Strategic Plan 2025-2027 and EC Consultation on the past, present and future of EU R&I Framework Programmes 2014-2027
  • Development of the Next Framework Programme FP10
  • ERA implementation: following ERA Forum & ERA actions of interest
  • Digital Europe Programme: following implementation,  Innovation Hubs & TEFs
  • Interregional Innovation Investments (I3): promoting RTOs participation with regions
Cooperation with EU Institutions & Stakeholders
  • European Commission (DG R&I, DG CONNECT, DG GROW, DG JRC, DG REGIO)
  • European Parliament (ITRE, REGI)
  • Council of the European Union
  • Committee of the Regions
  • Industry: BusinessEurope, Digital Europe, Orgalim and 30+ other Industry associations
  • Regions: ERRIN & Vanguard Initiative
  • Universities: EUA, CESAER, The Guild, Science Europe
  • EAIC
  • Various consultants hired by DG R&I for EU studies

Latest Papers Published

08 / 12 / 2023

EARTO Memo: 2024 EU Budget

EARTO is glad of the EU budget 2024 results and hereby would like to thank the EP BUDG and ITRE Committee Members for all their efforts to secure Horizon Europe budget.

08 / 09 / 2023

EARTO Inputs to ERAC on the next European Research & Innovation Framework Programme (FP10)

RTOs are very pleased with the opportunity offered by the EU Framework Programmes to contribute to the European Research Area by developing pan-European excellent and impactful collaborative applied research.

09 / 06 / 2023

EARTO Open Letter to the EC on EU Institutions Own Transparency: European Commission’s Who’s Who Digital Tool

The European Commission (EC) has recently made changes in the Who is Who directory of the EC. In this Open Letter to Ms Juhansone, Secretary-General of the EC, EARTO expresses its great concern about these changes.

10 / 02 / 2023

EARTO Reaction to the EC Proposal for a Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age

EARTO welcomes the EC proposal for a Green Deal Industrial Plan for the Net-Zero Age. However, the RD&I and linked technologies’ development/maturation/scaling up are not obviously considered in the plan.

10 / 02 / 2023

EARTO Answer to the EC Consultation on EU RD&I Framework Programmes

Based on EARTO members extensive experience in EU RD&I FPs and in preparation of Horizon Europe mid-term review, EARTO would like to point out some key issues in response to EC Consultation on the past, present and future of the European Research & Innovation Framework Programmes 2014-2027.

10 / 02 / 2023

EARTO Analysis on EARTO Members’ Participation in Horizon Europe

RTOs have a leading position and driving role in FPs’ multi-disciplinary, large and complex collaborative projects. FP projects where RTOs are active have a larger participation from industry than projects without RTOs.

23 / 11 / 2022

EARTO Memo on 2023 EU Budget

EARTO is glad of the EU budget 2023 results and hereby would like to thank the EP BUDG and ITRE Committee Members for all their efforts to secure Horizon Europe budget.

23 / 11 / 2020

EARTO Press Release - Horizon Europe’s Budget Allocation

EARTO very much welcomes the additional €4bn budget for Horizon Europe and thanks again the European Parliament for its supportive actions during the MFF negotiations. Now comes the time for the EU Institutions to decide where to allocate this €4bn top-off.

07 / 10 / 2020

EARTO Reaction to the EC Communication on ERA

EARTO welcomes the new EC’s Communication on ERA for Research and Innovation. Especially, EARTO appreciates the 3 new ambitions for public RD&I investments, strong European industrial base and technological sovereignty and creation of a EU Strategy on Technology Infrastructures.

30 / 09 / 2020

Joint contribution to the public consultation on Interregional Innovation Investments (I3)

EARTO, AER, eurada, European Network of Living Labs, EuroTech Universities, CPMR and Vanguard Initiative support the I3 and welcome the agreement from the Council to create this new tool under the ERDF, while regretting the downsizing of its budget to €500m.

31 / 07 / 2020

EARTO Paper – Setting-up a European Strategy for Technology Infrastructures

Technology Infrastructures are the backbone of dynamic RD&I ecosystems. EARTO therefore puts forward a set of recommendations to contribute to the set-up and efficient implementation of a new EU Strategy for Technology Infrastructures.

27 / 07 / 2020

EARTO Inputs for the EC Communication on ERA

EARTO has been one of the key RD&I actors actively participating in the ERA Stakeholders’ platform. As input to the European Commission’s future Communication on a new ERA for Research and Innovation, EARTO developed four recommendations for an effective post-2020 RD&I policy in Europe.

22 / 07 / 2020

EARTO Press Release: Call for the European Parliament to Become the Champion of EU RD&I Investments

EARTO calls the European Parliament to become the champion of EU RD&I investments in response to the European Council deal on the future MFF and the Recovery Plan . This “deal” came at a very high price for the future long-term EU investments, especially in RD&I.

14 / 07 / 2020

EARTO Open Letter to President Michel – More Ambitious EU RD&I investments needed in the next MFF

Ahead of the upcoming European Council meeting, EARTO would like to support the efforts to reach a timely agreement on the MFF. Europe and its citizens need a future-oriented MFF at the level of EU's ambitions, and we need it now.

08 / 07 / 2020

EARTO Joint Contribution to the EC consultation reviewing the GBER

EARTO and Vanguard Initiative published their Joint Contribution to the second European Commission (EC)’s Consultation on targeted review of the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER) and addressed some considerations about assessing this new specific approach as state aid.

02 / 07 / 2020

EARTO Response to the EC Consultation on the Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy

EARTO and its members very much welcomed the European Commission’s stakeholder consultation on the Renewed Sustainable Finance Strategy as it aims to provide the policy tools to ensure that the financial systems genuinely supports the transition of businesses towards sustainability.

22 / 06 / 2020

EARTO Inputs for the EC Communication on Horizon Europe Missions

EARTO members very much appreciate the efforts of the EU Institutions to further develop Horizon Europe, addressing new and disruptive challenges and increasing the capacity of the programme to react flexibly towards these new challenges, especially the ‘new mission-oriented’ approach.

29 / 05 / 2020

EARTO Press Release: Call for a Swift MFF Agreement Ensuring Ambitious EU RD&I Investments

At the edge of a deep economic recession, Europe requires now more than ever a future oriented MFF with clear and ambitious commitments to prioritise Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) investments.

26 / 05 / 2020

Joint Statement on EU Interregional Innovation Investments: towards EU economic recovery

AER, CPMR, EARTO, ENoLL, ERRIN, European Clusters Alliance, EuroTech Universities, UAS4Europe and Vanguard Initiative, jointly support the Statement on EU Interregional Innovation Investments towards the EU Economic Recovery.

19 / 05 / 2020

EARTO Paper on the EU Economic Recovery Package: Mobilising European RD&I Capabilities & Skills towards EU Economic Recovery Post COVID-19

EARTO brings forward a set of recommendations on how to utilise the EU Economic Recovery Package to mobilise European RD&I capabilities and skills to create a resilient, sustainable, technologically sovereign and inclusive post COVID-19 era in Europe.

11 / 03 / 2020

EARTO Press Release on the New EU Industrial Strategy

EARTO welcomes the EC Communication on "A New Industrial Strategy for Europe", with its clear focus on European industrial ecosystems based on key enabling technologies. EARTO very much values such approach, which is essential to foster the development of Europe’s innovation hubs along key industrial value chains and to boost collaboration and co-creation.

05 / 03 / 2020

EARTO Position Paper: Mobilising European RD&I Capabilities & Skills towards the European Green Deal

EARTO brings forward a set of recommendations which are focusing on how RD&I could further support the target of a sustainable and inclusive growth as defined by the European Commission under the European Green Deal.

19 / 02 / 2020

EARTO Open Letter to President Michel on the MFF for the Special European Council meeting of 20 February

Ahead of the Special European Council meeting of 20 February, EARTO fully supports the efforts undertaken to reach a timely agreement on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF).

11 / 12 / 2019

EARTO Press Release on MFF: More ambition is needed for EU RD&I Investments

EARTO analysis of the Finnish Presidency proposal for the next MFF (2021-2027). EARTO has repeatedly called for an MFF at the level of EU's ambitions.

04 / 12 / 2019

EARTO Recommendations for European RDI Policy Post-2020

EARTO and its members hereby put forward a set of Recommendations for European RD&I policies post-2020.

25 / 10 / 2019

EARTO Answer to the EC Consultation on the Digital Europe Programme

EARTO and its members very much welcomed the EU Institutions' efforts to create the Digital Europe Programme (DEP).

25 / 09 / 2019

EARTO Joint Contribution to the EC Consultation Reviewing the GBER

EARTO and Vanguard Initiative welcome the EC's proposal to review the EU state aide rules to facilitate the combination of shared management funds and centrally managed funds.

23 / 09 / 2019

EARTO Answer to the EC Consultation on Horizon Europe Implementation Aspects - horizontal aspects

EARTO input on the topics covered by the EC consultation on Horizon Europe Implementation Strategy.

16 / 09 / 2019

Joint Statement for an Ambitious Horizon Europe Programme with 92 industry associations

AER, CPMR, EARTO, ERRIN, ENoLL, EuroTech Universities Alliance and Vanguard Initiative, as well as the co-leading Regions from 17 Smart Specialisation Partnerships, jointly support the Statement on Interregional Innovation Investments for European value chains.

21 / 08 / 2019

EARTO Answer to the EC Consultation on Horizon Europe Programme Strategic Planning

The crucial role of Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) activities to support and boost industrial leadership is now at heart of the European Industrial Policy with the ultimate goals to benefit society.

03 / 06 / 2019

Joint Statement on Interregional Innovation Investments for European Value Chains

AER, CPMR, ERRIN, ENoLL, EuroTech Universities Alliance and Vanguard Initiative, as well as the co-leading Regions from 17 Smart Specialisation Partnerships, jointly support the Statement on Interregional Innovation Investments for European value chains.

03 / 06 / 2019

EARTO & Vanguard Statement on Synergies Post-2020

EARTO and the Vanguard Initiative very much welcome the new INTERREG component 5 and the new possibility of transferring resources between EU programmes: both could be key drivers to achieve synergies of funds.

17 / 04 / 2019

Press Release - EARTO Welcomes the EU Institutions' Agreement on Horizon Europe

EARTO and its members welcome the EU Institutions' timely agreement on HEU.

25 / 06 / 2018

EARTO Analysis of EC Digital Europe Programme Proposal

EARTO very much welcomes the EC legislative proposal for a new Digital Europe Programme and hereby would like to congratulate the EC for targeting key issues for Europe’s future.

25 / 06 / 2018

EARTO Recommendations on EC Proposal for HEU

EARTO and its members very much welcome the EC proposal for Horizon Europe. To strengthen such proposal, EARTO hereby lists its 9 key recommendations.

25 / 06 / 2018

EARTO Analysis of EC Regulation Proposal: Establishing HEU & its Rules for Participation

EARTO and its members welcome the EC proposal for Horizon Europe, which is in continuity with H2020 and builds on the successes of the previous FPs.

25 / 06 / 2018

EARTO Analysis of EC Decision Proposal: Horizon Europe Specific Programme

EARTO very much welcomes the EC legislative proposal establishing the specific programme implementing Horizon Europe. This paper presents RTOs’ detailled analysis and position on such proposal.

23 / 02 / 2018

EARTO Paper on European Innovation Hubs

An Ecosystem Approach to Accelerate the Uptake of Innovation in Key Enabling Technologies

22 / 02 / 2018

EARTO’s Call to Secure an Increased R&I Budget at the Level of Europe’s Ambitions

EARTO calls to secure an increased R&I budget in the MFF post-2020.

21 / 02 / 2018

Boosting Europe’s Future Competitiveness as Key Priority for FP9 – 2nd Joint Declaration by Industry and RTOs

Associations representing key European industrial research and innovation stakeholders, call on the EU Institutions to develop the FP9 with an appropriate design and budget, at the level of the ambitions of the Renewed EU Industrial Policy Strategy.