The next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation is currently referred to as "FP10". Although FP10 is not due to start until January 2028, discussions have already begun on how the European funding for research and innovation should be shaped. Official negotiations on the next Framework Programme will begin in mid-2025, on the basis of a proposal from the European Commission. "FP10" will start in 2028 and is expected to have a duration of seven years.

This infosheet provides an overview of the timeline towards the next Framework Programme as well as an overview of position and discussion papers that have been published so far.

Timeline

Reports commissioned by the EU institutions

- The European Council invited Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta to provide a report on the single market, which was published in April 2024. In his report, ‘Much More Than a Market', Letta outlined a “fifth freedom”: the freedom of knowledge, which would allow the free movement of researchers and research outputs in the single market.

- The European Commission tasked Mario Draghi, former European Central Bank President, to prepare a report of his personal vision on the future of European competitiveness. The Draghi report, published in September 2024, highlights the innovation gap between the EU and its main competitors. It presents a set of recommendations to make the EU more competitive on a global scale, incentivise breakthrough innovation, and improve commercialisation of R&I.

- The European Commission had tasked a High Level Expert Group, chaired by former Portuguese Minister for Research, Manuel Heitor, to provide advice on the future Framework Programme by November 2024. The High Level Expert Group's report sets out 12 specific recommendations to ensure the robustness and excellence of the programme, as well as its capacity to respond to current and future challenges Europe faces.

- In January 2025, the Commission published its policy paper 'Competitiveness Compass for the EU', outlining strategies for boosting the EU’s competitiveness, including a focused approach towards R&I. In February 2025, the Commission launched a series of public consultations in view of the next generation of EU funding programmes, including a consultation on EU funds that boost competitiveness which also encompasses research & innovation and is open until 6 May.

- The interim evaluation of Horizon Europe is on the way, and the final report – which should deliver valuable insights into the implementation of the current Framework Programme (Horizon Europe) – is expected to be published in April 2025.

- The Report on the assessment of the implementation of Horizon Europe adopted by the European Parliament in March 2025 suggests improvements for future EU research & innovation funding programmes. The report urges the Commission to ensure FP10 remains an independent Union Programme and insists the Framework Programme’s budget should receive a substantial upgrade to 220 billion euros, in line with the target of 3% of GDP spending on R&D. 

Position papers by the EU Member States

- Numerous Member States, Associated countries and stakeholder organisations already tabled position/discussion papers (put together in a handy overview by ERA Portal Austria).

- Flanders issued a position paper in September 2023: Flemish reflection paper on the tenth European Framework Programme for R&I. A Belgian reflection paper was issued in February 2025. 

- Member States and EEA countries together delivered their recommendations for FP 10 under the roof of ERAC, the European Research Area and Innovation Committee, on 26 June 2024.

- The EU Research ministers call for independent FP10 in Warsaw Declaration on the strategic role of the future EU R&I framework programme

- ERA Portal Austria has developed an interactive diagram showing the different national positions on certain topics. The graphic representation it has created is based on an approximative assessment of the relevant text passages in the respective corresponding position papers.

Position papers by European associations and organisations

ERA Portal Austria provides a handy overview of the position papers on the next EU Framework Programme issued by numerous European associations and organisations. This overview includes, among others, position papers by Science Europe, EARTO (European Association of Research and Technology Organisations), several networks of universities such as The Guild, LERU and CESEAR, UAS4Europe (network of universities of applied sciences).

All the above activities will feed into the preparatory work of the European Commission for its legislative proposal for the 10th Framework Programme. The proposal is expected to be published by mid-2025, followed by negotiations in Council and at the European Parliament, with a view to adoption before the end of 2027.