Joint Statement on the Contribution of Research and Higher Education to Ensuring European Competitiveness

Against the backdrop of geopolitical crises and global challenges, the signatories underline the central importance of research, knowledge and European cooperation. Strong European engagement is essential to safeguard scientific excellence, boost international competitiveness and preserve knowledge as a public good.

International higher education and exchange are highlighted as key drivers of innovation, critical thinking and intercultural understanding. Accordingly, reliable and adequate funding for the next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) is seen as crucial.

FP10 should remain the central pillar of European research funding, while the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) is intended to translate research into real-world applications—strengthening Europe’s innovative capacity and strategic independence in the process. The statement calls for a governance structure under which the research and innovation community continues to play a leading role across all pillars of FP10. Both instruments are to complement one another and maximise the impact of European research overall.

In the next Multiannual Financial Framework, their budgets should therefore be significantly increased, in order to meet rising demand and costs, enable broad participation, and further cooperation within the European Higher Education Area.

This will allow students to develop the skills they need for European cooperation and for a rapidly changing labour market. At the same time, international mobility and exchange foster critical thinking, creativity and intercultural understanding—effects that go far beyond immediate economic benefits and play a decisive role in strengthening social and cultural cohesion across Europe.

In light of this, the statement calls for a budget of €220 billion for FP10 and €60 billion for Erasmus+.