Aiming to contribute to the discussions on the vision and design of the 10th European Union (EU) Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (R&I) – the world’s largest R&I funding programme – FP10, the Young European Research Universities Network (YERUN) is proposing the key priorities to make FP10 highly attractive, impactful and inclusive. 

The preconditions for an attractive, impactful and inclusive FP10 

FP10 must have a focus on facilitating high-quality research, both in terms of adequate funding as in the shaping of adequate framework conditions. The budget of FP10 should mirror its ambitions and be above €200 billion.  

YERUN’s key overarching priorities for the design of FP10 

YERUN’s vision for FP10 is to foster collaborative efforts for excellent science (research-first), addressing global challenges, and ensuring a better future (coherence for impact), while promoting equal opportunities for participation (inclusive-by-design): 

1.  An attractive programme that puts research first 

As research is the fuel behind innovation and impact, a variety of research opportunities need to be provided in FP10 – from individual endeavours to teams collaborating within both small and large consortia and with more flexibility. Putting research first requires ring-fencing the budget for Pillar 1 initiatives and ensuring collaborative and interdisciplinary low-TRL research in Pillar 2, while limiting earmarked and prescriptive calls.  

2. Coherence for impact 

To truly make an impact, researchers must play a central role in project proposals (instead of costly external parties). In FP10, this should be facilitated by integrating impact into the excellence and implementation sections, making the proposals more coherent and realistic. To enhance the impact of collaborative projects and avoid fragmenting efforts, better coordination and funding for clusters within Pillar 2 are necessary. FP10 needs to leverage synergies with other funding mechanisms to provide opportunities for continuity beyond the initial duration of projects. 

3. Inclusive-by-design 

Simplifying processes, streamlining the flow of information and reducing complexity of instruments will reduce barriers to participation, thus designing inclusiveness into FP10. A holistic assessment framework would consider societal needs and readiness for technological advances, along with increased recognition of Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) fields. Also, FP10 should support universities across Europe to become strong players in R&I, aiming for comprehensive inclusion strategies to address the varying levels of support in their resources and services for R&I.

YERUN members remain committed to continue collaborating with policymakers and stakeholders, in the spirit of co-creation, to design concrete measures that will make FP10 an attractive, impactful and inclusive programme.

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