Joint Declaration for a Bold FP10

86 European associations representing key research, development and innovation (RD&I) stakeholders have published a joint declaration urging EU Institutions to design a bold, well-funded FP10, the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, covering the 2028–2034 EU budget period.

The declaration points to the Draghi report on European Competitiveness, which warns that Europe's productivity growth has stalled and its innovation gap with the US and China is widening, calling for an additional €800 billion per year in investment to close the gap. The signatories argue that RD&I, and FP10 in particular, is the EU's principal tool for driving this investment, citing the Horizon 2020 evaluation showing that every euro of EU funding leverages multiples in private and national co-investment.

The associations call on EU Institutions to substantially increase FP10's budget, strengthen industry-driven public-private partnerships through Pillar II, and ensure FP10 works alongside the European Competitiveness Fund to support the full innovation cycle, from fundamental research to market deployment.

They warn that cutting or freezing FP10 funding would be a false economy, undermining the partnerships and pipelines needed to restore Europe