A little more than a year ago, the European Commission (EC) unveiled its proposal for FP10 (see August 2025 Focus). The research community was relieved that the successor to FP9 would continue to exist as a standalone programme. Similarly, that FP10 would build on the existing structure and preserve well-known instruments, such as the ERC, MSCA, EIC and others. More than 12 months later, FP10 finds itself at the centre of wider political discussions on Europe's future competitiveness, technological sovereignty, security, and EU preference. This is exemplified by the proposed tight connection of FP10 to the new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).
The EC has proposed to have common, integrated Work Programmes and priorities between the collaborative research in FP10 and the ECF, which the EU Member States support. Only the European Parliament holds a different opinion: According to their draft amendments, FP10 should set its own priorities and have separate Work Programmes. This will undoubtedly be the most controversial element in the forthcoming negotiations between the Member States and the European Parliament to establish FP10.
The negotiating parties broadly agree on other novel elements of FP10: The programme will no longer have a civil clause in its Regulation, enabling dual-use research and innovation call topics. Research security requirements will become more prominent. And finally, there is agreement that the association of non-EU countries should be maintained at the current level. However, many of the countries currently associated to Horizon Europe still have open questions regarding how a future association would work in the new set-up with the ECF and its directionality drive.
Ultimately, the budget question towers above everything: How much money will the EU allocate to FP10? I expect it to be higher than the current budget but much lower than the proposed doubling by the EC. The choices made in the coming months will reveal whether Europe sees research and innovation merely as budget lines or as the foundation of its long-term competitiveness and openness to the world.
Author: Laurin Reding, Head of Office, SwissCoreIllustration: Katja Stähli
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