On the Research part of the Competitiveness Council the minister adopted the Council conclusions on the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) and on accelerating knowledge circulation in the European Union.
The ministers had a policy debate on R&I within the context of the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). Several ministers supported an increased budget for Horizon Europe in the next MFF, however some of them stressed that the Member States’ share in the allocation of the Framework Programme’s budget diverges greatly. Several ministers stressed the importance of supporting R&I from the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF), they called for effective synergies between ESIF and the framework programme and easing state aid rules.
The ministers agreed that excellence must stay the guiding principle in the framework programme, because it ensures quality in R&I. However another criteria, namely impact should be reinforced.
The Member States supported the three-pillar structure of Horizon Europe, the introduction of missions and setting up the European Innovation Council (EIC). According to many Member States, collaborative projects should remain in the focus, because they have the biggest European Added Value.
Hungary was represented by Dr. József Pálinkás, President of the National RDI Office of Hungary. In his view more coordination would be needed between the ESIF, the framework programme and the national programmes in order to boost impact of RDI in sectoral policies. Impact is in close relationship with excellence; industry and the society must express their expectations towards science in order to reach impact and exploit the results of R&I projects. He stressed that we should not neglect the role of research infrastructures and their appropriate and sustainable financing. He welcomed the establishment of the EIC but he underscored that it must be linked to the European Research Council (ERC).
On the occasion of the debate over the future of the European space policy, there was a broad agreement among ministers that the continuity and further development of flagship programmes is a must. The financial source proposed by the Commission within the new MFF to ensure this continuity was welcomed by Member States. Ministers also agreed that communication needs to be reinforced in order to raise awareness about the benefits of the EU space programmes to public authorities, entrepreneurs and citizens alike.
