The European Commission must ensure that the next iteration of its Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP) is “more adaptive, inclusive, and well-funded” than the current offering, according to pharmaceutical R&D trade body EFPIA.
Next year, the commission is expected to set out its official proposal for the “FP10” program, which will replace the current version of the scheme – known as Horizon Europe – in 2028.
EFPIA, along with 109 other European associations representing research and innovation stakeholders, co-signed a letter this month urging the commission to “significantly increase” the current research, development and innovation (RD&I) budget when drafting FP10.
The associations warned that the EU “significantly lags behind in terms of investments in RD&I compared to its global competitors,” and said that the FP10 framework would play an important role in attracting private research investment in the bloc.
What Is FP10?
Since 1984, the European Commission has offered funding for scientific innovation under its Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, abbreviated to FP.
FP10 will be the 10th iteration of the offering. In 2014, when FP8 was launched, the scheme was named Horizon 2020, and this framework ran until 2020.
In 2021, FP9 was launched, with the name Horizon Europe. This framework is the current version of the FP program, and will expire at the end of 2027.
An official name for FP10 has not yet been released.
The current framework, called Horizon Europe, had a total budget of €95.5bn ($80.7bn), and researchers involved in various industries can apply for funding by responding to specific calls for proposals set out by the commission. Applicants must be a group of at least three partner organizations from different countries.
“A favourable FP10 would be a programme with an ambitious overall budget, securing a significant part for health priorities, and leaving room for large scale partnerships operating overall flexible and efficient rules,” a spokesperson for EFPIA told the Pink Sheet.
“To do so, it is important that the commission provides a streamlined set of rules for FP10, meaning flexible and fit-for-purpose instead of the current one-size-fits-all approach,” they added.
Access To EU Funding
The way that funding is accessed under Horizon Europe differs by industry. For pharmaceutical researchers, Horizon Europe funding is available through the Innovative Health Initiative (IHI), which is jointly funded by the EU and the life sciences industry.
The total budget for IHI for the period 2021-2027 is €2.4bn, of which €1.2bn came from Horizon Europe.
“The EU Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation have very significant relevance to EFPIA and its members, as they are a key component to the competitiveness of the research ecosystem, turning knowledge into innovation for the benefit of society,” the EFPIA spokesperson explained.
In particular, they said the IHI was a “unique tool” for the pharmaceutical industry as it enabled stakeholders from industry, academia, patient groups and regulators to join forces and solve challenges that no single organization could.
“For our sector, it is also critical to secure Europe's place as the generator and not a consumer of health innovation,” the spokesperson added.
Last month, the IHI released its latest round of research topics for which it is seeking applicants. These included a project that could help analyze the use of regulatory sandboxes in health care innovation, and another aimed at the development of novel digital endpoints for osteoarthritis. (Also see "EU Offers Research Funding For Regulatory Sandboxes And Novel Endpoint Projects" - Pink Sheet, 5 July, 2024.).
Non-EU Countries Also Eligible For Funding
Countries outside of the EU are also eligible for Horizon Europe funding in some circumstances, for instance if they form part of a research group that is working on an IHI project. While most countries cannot apply for direct funding or lead on projects, there are 19 non-EU “associated countries” that do have such privileges.
The most recent country to secure Horizon Europe associated country status is Canada, which joined on 3 July.
A spokesperson for Canada’s Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED), a governmental organization, told the Pink Sheet that the association with Horizon Europe “will create new opportunities for international collaboration with Canadian scientists, researchers and innovators.”
“More specifically, Canadian health researchers will have access to cutting-edge research, technologies, infrastructure and talent across Europe and beyond,” they added.
Other non-EU countries associated with Horizon Europe are: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Türkiye, Tunisia, the UK and Ukraine.
