27.05.2026 - 'The EU continues to invest significantly less in research and development at 2.2% of GDP than other industrial regions. For example, Japan and the USA stand at 3.7% and 3.5%, respectively. A stronger and more effective 10th EU Framework Programme for Research is therefore essential for the future of Europe's competitiveness. The business community expects a clear signal from the Competitiveness Council: to provide better financial resources for FP10 and to establish an independent programme alongside the European Competitiveness Fund.

Regarding processes, the European Parliament has provided valuable impulses for greater practical relevance: policies should define strategic priorities – however, the detailed implementation of calls and work programmes should be left more to independent experts. This would enable funding programmes to respond faster to technological developments and align better with the actual needs of research and businesses.

Especially in dynamic technological fields, companies need technology-open tenders that enable innovation instead of restricting it through excessive specifications. Equally crucial are faster procedures, less bureaucracy, and a closer linkage between research, application, and scaling.

Member states and the federal government are called upon to negotiate actively and make FP10 what Europe needs: a powerful, practical, and competitive instrument for innovation.'