REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT First biennial report on the implementation of the Global Approach to research and innovation
Date: 2023-06-29
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Subjects: EU research policy, Framework Programme for Research and Development, digital transformation, green economy, health policy, innovation, international cooperation, research and development, scientific cooperation, third country

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 29.6.2023  COM(2023) 356 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT First biennial report on the implementation of the Global Approach to research and innovation  
 
 
1.  INTRODUCTION 

In  a  global  context  characterised  by  heightened  geopolitical  tensions  and  the  resulting 
increased  fragmentation  of  the  world’s  supply  chains,  the  European  Union  faces  the 
challenge  of  diversifying  and  substituting  sources  of  supply  for  critical  raw  materials  and 
clean  energy.  It  also  needs  to  boost  its  own  capacity  for  technological  sovereignty  in  close 
relationship with reliable partners, thereby ensuring its open strategic autonomy. 

The  Green  Deal  industrial  plan1  acknowledges  the  need  to  massively  increase  the 
technological  development,  manufacturing  and  installation  of  net-zero  products  and  energy 
supply  in  the  next  decade.  Europe  is  a  leading  player  in  innovation  and  has  world-leading 
scientists and researchers. Building on these strengths, the Commission works with partners 
to develop and deploy net-zero technologies, with an open but assertive approach.  

In  its  Communication  on  the  Global  Approach  to  research  and  innovation  (R&I)2,  the 
Commission presented a strategy to deepen international R&I cooperation based on openness 
and respect of fundamental rights and values. The Council reaffirmed the EU’s commitment 
to  openness  in  international  R&I  cooperation,  while  pursuing  a  level  playing  field  and 
balanced reciprocal openness3 and the European Parliament emphasised the need to develop 
rules-based multilateral cooperation, in which R&I should play a pivotal role4. 

The  Global  Approach  Communication  is  implemented  through  modulating  bilateral 
cooperation with individual countries, pursuing reciprocal openness and a level playing field. 
At the same time, the Global Approach Communication supports multilateral partnerships to 
deliver new solutions to global challenges and increase EU’s resilience. It is instrumental for 
the  Global  Gateway5,  the  EU’s  strategy  to  boost  investment  around  the  world  in 
digitalisation, climate and energy, transport, health, education and research. 

This  is  the  first  biennial  report  taking  stock  of  progress  towards  the  Global  Approach 
Communication’s objectives. It provides a snapshot of the EU position in international R&I 
cooperation  across  thematic  areas.  It  also  includes  a  reflection  on  science  diplomacy  to 
further integrate the Global Approach to R&I into the EU’s foreign and security policy6. 

2.  REAFFIRMING  EU  COMMITMENT  TO  INTERNATIONAL  OPENNESS  AND  FUNDAMENTAL 

VALUES IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 

The  EU  developed  a  common  set  of  principles  and  values  for  R&I  and  launched  a 
multilateral  dialogue  with  partner  countries  and  international  fora  on  values  and 
principles for international R&I cooperation. 

The EU reaffirmed its commitment to lead by example to preserve openness in international 
R&I  cooperation,  while  putting  in  place  restrictive  measures  when  needed.  It  successfully 

1 COM (2023) 62 final. 
2 COM (2021) 252 final. 
3 Council conclusions on the Global Approach to research and innovation, 28/09/2021, document 12301/21. 
4 Resolution on a global approach to research and innovation, 6 April 2022, 2021/3001(RSP). 
5 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee, 
the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank, The Global Gateway, JOIN (2021) 30 final. 
6 See point 34 of Council Conclusions on the Global Approach to research and innovation. 

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implemented new provisions for the association of third countries to Horizon Europe. 

2.1 Values and principles in international R&I cooperation 

The  Global  Approach  Communication  states  that  fundamental  values  and  principles 
underlying  international  R&I  cooperation  should  be  discussed  with  international  partners 
through a multilateral dialogue. This approach was endorsed by the Council in three sets of 
R&I-related Council  conclusions7, as well as  by the Marseille  Declaration8 on international 
cooperation  in  R&I.  The  Commission  hosted  the  inaugural  meeting  of  the  multilateral 
dialogue in virtual format on 8 July 2022, attended by representatives from 46 countries9 and 
several international organisations and European stakeholder organisations. 

The  dialogue  is  being  implemented  through  workshops  focused  on  R&I  values  and 
principles10,  aiming  to  discuss  common  terminology,  share  experience  on  practical 
implementation  and  identify  good  practice.  The  discussions  take  stock  of  and  build  on  the 
Pact  for  R&I  in  Europe11  and  work  in  international  fora  such  as  G7,  G20,  the  Global 
Research  Council,  the  OECD  and  UNESCO.  The  output  from  the  workshops  will  be 
consolidated  through  ‘stock  taking’  meetings,  held  in  the  course  of  2023,  and  a  ministerial 
event  in  2024  with  the  envisaged  participation  of  representatives  of  countries  and 
organisations involved in the multilateral dialogue.  

The EU has  also  been particularly active in  defending academic freedom, notably through 
the Inspireurope+ project financed through Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCAs) under 
Horizon Europe. The project aims to facilitate transnational cooperation by strengthening and 
spreading  good  practice  in  supporting  researchers  at  risk,  due  to  for  instance  the 
consequences  of  the  COVID-19  pandemic,  the  forceful  takeover  of  Afghanistan  by  the  de 
facto Taliban regime or internal repression in or forced departure from Russia as a result of 
their opposition to the country’s war of aggression against Ukraine12.  

The  EU  is  leading  the  way  in  promoting  and  adopting  open  science  practices  through 
international  collaboration  initiatives,  such  as  the  European  Open  Science  Cloud.  The 
European  Open  Science  Cloud  initiative  is  also  involved  in  bi-regional  and  bilateral 
cooperation, such as  exploring potential links with the African Open Science Platform. The 
EU  also  contributes  to  international  alignment  and  collaboration  on  open  science  by  co-
chairing a dedicated G7 working group. Further international alignment of policies, rules and 
action  is  still  needed  for  open  sharing  of  scientific  knowledge  and  research  data  and  for 

7 Council conclusions on the Global Approach to research and innovation of 28/09/2021, document 12301/21; 
on  the  future  governance  of  the  European  Research  Area  (ERA)  of  26/11/2021,  document  14308/21;  and  on 
principles and values for international cooperation in R&I of 10/06/2022, document 10125/22. 
8 Organised under the French  Presidency of the  Council, the Marseille conference on the Global Approach to 
R&I  took  place  on  8  March  2021.  It  resulted  in  the  adoption  of  the  Presidency’s  declaration  on  international 
cooperation in R&I. 
9  These  are  EU  Member  States,  countries  associated  to  Horizon  Europe  and  countries  with  a  science  and 
technology cooperation agreement with the EU.  
10 These values and principles are those set out in the Council conclusions of 10 June 2022, document 10125/22. 
The workshops are co-designed and co-organised with Member States and/or international partners and 
stakeholder organisations, in close cooperation with the ERA Forum Sub-Group on the Global Approach. 
11 Council Recommendation (EU) 2021/2122 of 26 November 2021 on a Pact for R&I in Europe. 
12 For more information: Inspireurope+.  

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principles  guiding  changes  to  research  assessment,  for  example  under  the  Coalition  for 
Advancing Research Assessment. 

Science diplomacy13 plays today an ever greater role, due to a number of factors such as: the 
increasing  complexity  of  global  challenges,  pressures  on  global  commons,  the  impact  of 
emerging  technologies,  the  global  security  context,  in  particular  with  the  Russian  war  of 
aggression  against  Ukraine,  and  the  quest  for  EU’s  open  strategic  autonomy  and 
largely 
technological  sovereignty.  Science  diplomacy  efforts 
uncoordinated, lacking synergies and an EU-wide approach14. Such shortcomings create 
vulnerabilities  in  a  rapidly  changing  geopolitical,  scientific  and  technological  environment, 
with other international actors using science diplomacy in a much more targeted manner. 

in  the  EU  remain 

The  Council  also  called  on  the  Commission  and  the  European  External  Action  Service  to 
develop a European science diplomacy agenda in its conclusions on the Global Approach and 
on the future governance of the European Research Area (ERA). From discussions held in the 
ERA Forum  Sub-Group on the Global  Approach and with  different  groups of stakeholders, 
four pillars of science diplomacy emerged15 and discussions are continuing on this basis, both 
within EU institutions and with relevant stakeholders. 

2.2. The international dimension of Horizon Europe and its association policy 

is  vital  for  ensuring  access 

talent,  knowledge, 
International  R&I  cooperation 
infrastructures  and  markets  worldwide,  for  effectively  tackling  global  challenges  and  for 
implementing global commitments. The EU is a major catalyst for the internationalisation of 
R&I, with Horizon Europe – the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation – 
attracting top researchers, innovators and knowledge-intensive companies16.  

to 

Openness to the world is a trademark of Horizon Europe. Collaborative projects can include 
partners  from  all  over  the  globe.  Except  for  a  few  cases,  partners  from  low-  and  middle-
income countries are automatically eligible for EU funding, while industrialised countries are 
generally expected to bring their own funding to projects.  

In  the  first  two  biennial  Horizon  Europe  work  programmes  (for  2021-22  and  2023-24), 
around  21%  of  all  collaborative  research 
international 
cooperation.  Specific  initiatives  were  also  launched,  targeting  cooperation  with  Africa  and 
Southern  Mediterranean  countries.  Marie  Skłodowska-Curie  actions  (MSCAs)  are  the  most 
international  component  in  Horizon  Europe17  and  are  essential  in  establishing  international 

topics  actively  encouraged 

13 Science diplomacy is understood here as the direct or indirect use of science, scientific evidence and scientific 
cooperation to advance diplomatic goals. This term includes science, technology, engineering and mathematics, 
as well as social sciences and humanities. 
14 Tools for an EU Science Diplomacy, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2017. 
15  Using  science  diplomacy  to  tackle  geopolitical  challenges  in  a  fragmented,  multipolar  world;  Making 
European  diplomacy  more  strategic,  effective  and  resilient  through  scientific  evidence  and  foresight; 
Strengthening  science  diplomacy  in  EU  and  Member  States’  delegations  and  embassies  and  fostering  global 
science diplomacy outreach; Building capacity for European science diplomacy. 
16  European  Commission,  Impact  assessment  accompanying  the  proposal  for  a  Regulation  of  the  European 
Parliament  and  of  the  Council  establishing  Horizon  Europe  –  the  Framework  Programme  for  Research  and 
Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and dissemination, SWD (2018) 307. 
17  Marie  Skłodowska-Curie  Actions  represents  about  50%  of  the  Horizon  Europe’s  total  participations  from 
third  country  organisations.  For  many  countries,  over  50%  of  their  total  participations  in  Horizon  Europe 

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partnerships  between  R&I  organisations.  Among  individual  researchers  selected  under 
MSCA postdoctoral fellowships, 38% are from outside the EU18. Anchored among others to 
the  UN  Sustainable  Development  Goals,  Horizon  Europe’s  missions  have  a  strong 
international dimension19 (see section 4). 

Under  Horizon  Europe,  the  EU  has  continued  to  finance  transnational  access  to  research 
infrastructures,  including  those  run  by  the  Commission’s Joint  Research  Centre20,  for  users 
from third countries. The EU promotes international access programmes within the G7 Group 
of  senior  officials  on  global  research  infrastructures21.  In  2022,  the  Commission  and  the 
Member States supported the Brno Declaration22, which aims to foster a global ecosystem of 
research infrastructures.  

Whereas  previous  Framework  Programmes  have  been  open  for  the  association  of  countries 
neighbouring the European Union, Horizon Europe, for the first time, offers the possibility to 
associate  third  countries  located  anywhere  in  the  world,  which  have  a  good  capacity  in 
science, technology and innovation23 and share common values with the EU. New Zealand is 
the  first  country  beyond  the  EU’s  direct  vicinity  with  which  association  negotiations  were 
finalised  in  December  2022.  Negotiations  with  Canada  are  ongoing  and  the  launch  of 
negotiations  with  the  Republic  of  Korea  was  announced  at  the  EU-Korea  Summit  in  May 
2023. The possible launch of negotiations is also under consideration with Japan.  

In  the  EU  neighbourhood,  Horizon  Europe  confirms  the  possibility  of  association  to  the 
programme  for  third  countries  belonging  to  the  European  Free  Trade  Association  (EFTA) 
which  are  members  of  the  European  Economic  Area,  for  acceding,  candidate  and  potential 
candidate countries, as well as for European neighbourhood policy countries. There are so far 
16  countries  already  associated  to  the  programme:  Albania,  Armenia,  Bosnia  and 
Herzegovina, the Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo*, the Republic of Moldova, 
Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye and Ukraine24. The EU is 
further  working  on  the  conclusion  of  the  association  process  with  the  UK,  and  formal 
negotiations with Morocco are ongoing. 

projects occurs through MSCA: USA (77.5%); Argentina (76.5%), Indonesia, Singapore, New Zealand (75%); 
Japan (66.7%); Australia (62.2%); Chile (57.1%); Canada (54.1%). 
18  This  is  based  on  the  first  data  from  Horizon  Europe.  In  addition,  the  Commission  has  also  launched  a 
dedicated  action  on  fostering  international  cooperation  in  MSCA  (MSCAdvocacy),  assessing  for  instance 
framework conditions for cooperation in researchers’ training and mobility with countries that have a bilateral 
science and technology cooperation agreement in force with the EU. 
19 Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and the Council of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon 
Europe – the  Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, laying down its rules for participation and 
dissemination,  and  repealing  Regulations  (EU)  No  1290/2013  and  (EU)  No  1291/2013,  (–  the  Framework 
Programme  for  Research  and  Innovation,  laying  down  its  rules  for  participation  and  dissemination,  and 
repealing Regulations (EU) No 1290/2013 and (EU) No 1291/2013), see Article 8 thereof. 
20 See: Open access to JRC Research Infrastructures (europa.eu) 
21 GSO – Group of Senior Officials (GSO) on global Research Infrastructures (gsogri.org) 
22 Brno Declaration on Fostering a Global Ecosystem of Research Infrastructures (icri2022.cz) 
23  Reference  is  made  to  third  countries  fulfilling  the  criteria  established  in  Article  16(1)(d)  of  the  Regulation 
(EU) 2021/695 of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon Europe. 
*  This  designation  is  without  prejudice  to  positions  on  status,  and  is  in  line  with  UNSC  1244  and  the  ICJ 
Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence. 
24 Ukraine is also associated to the Euratom Research and Training programme. 

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3.  REBALANCING  THE  EU’S  GLOBAL  APPROACH  TO  R&I:  TOWARDS  A  LEVEL  PLAYING 

FIELD AND RECIPROCITY 

The EU set out joint commitments with prioritised partners, such as the United States of 
America  (US),  Canada,  Japan,  India,  Southern  Mediterranean  countries,  and  the  African 
Union,  to  implement  framework  conditions  designed  to  secure  a  level  playing  field  and 
promote shared values (see more details in Section 5 below). 

The Commission  implemented  Article 22(5) and (6) of the Horizon Europe Regulation25 to 
safeguard the EU strategic assets, interests, autonomy or security. It developed guidelines 
on foreign interference, guiding principles on knowledge valorisation, a code of practice for 
the management of intellectual assets and a code of practice on standardisation26.  

The COVID-19 pandemic and the fast-changing geopolitical context have revealed the severe 
risks associated with EU’s dependencies in several strategic sectors27. This calls for attention 
to  be  paid  to  how  technological  capacity  is  distributed  across  major  economic  players28. 
Technological sovereignty requires both the scientific knowledge necessary to build, operate 
and understand  critical  technologies, and access  to the components  and materials  needed to 
transfer the technologies from the laboratory to the market29.  

Article 22(5) of the Horizon Europe Regulation  makes it possible to limit participation to 
legal entities established in Member States or in specified associated or other third countries 
as  identified  in  the  work  programme  to  safeguard  the  EU’s  strategic  assets,  interests, 
autonomy or security. Restrictions can also be applied to entities established in countries that 
are eligible but are directly or indirectly controlled by a non-eligible country or by an entity 
established  in  a  non-eligible  country.  Participation  was  limited  under  Article  22(5)  for  49 
topics  in  the  2021-22  work  programme  and  for  31  topics  in  the  2023-24  work  programme, 
accounting  for  4%  and  3.5%  respectively  of  these  work  programmes’  budgets.30  The 
provisions  of  Article  22(5)  were  used  for  topics  relating  to  quantum  research,  space  and 
critical raw materials. The use of Article 22(5) is exceptional and duly justified.  

Where appropriate and duly justified, Article 22(6) of the Horizon Europe Regulation allows 
for  the  insertion  of  additional  eligibility  criteria  to  take  account  of  specific  policy 
requirements or the nature and objectives of the action. The Commission has made use of this 
Article  with  third  countries  where  it  was  deemed  that  the  framework  conditions  ensuring  a 
level playing field in R&I cooperation were not in place.  

25 Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of 28 April 2021 establishing Horizon Europe. 
26 Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/498 of 1 March 2023 on a Code of Practice on standardisation in 
the European Research Area and Commission Recommendation (EU) 2023/499 of 1 March 2023 on a Code of 
Practice on the management of intellectual assets for knowledge valorisation in the European Research Area. 
27 See inter alia: EU research and innovation and the invasion of Ukraine: Main channels of impact (europa.eu) 
28  Crespi,  F.,  Caravella,  S.,  Menghini,  M.,  &  Salvatori,  C.  (2021).  European  Technological  Sovereignty:  An 
emerging framework for policy strategy. Intereconomics, 56(6), 348-354. 
29 Edler, J., Blind, K., & Frietsch, R. (2020). Technological Sovereignty: From Demand to Concept. Available 
at: https://www.isi.fraunhofer.de/en/presse/2020/presseinfo-11-Technologiesouveraenitaet.html. 
30 In addition, the European High-Performance Computing (EuroHPC) Joint Undertaking  made  use of  Article 
22(5) in one action in its 2023 work programme, one action in its 2022 work programme, and two actions in its 
2021 work programme. 

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In order to ensure that actions carried out under Horizon Europe comply with the applicable 
security rules according to Article 20(1) of the Horizon Europe Regulation, the Commission 
implemented  a  security  screening  procedure  for  projects  involving  sensitive  or  classified 
information, or information or materials subject to national security restrictions. The current 
geo-political  situation  led  to  an  increasing  demand  for  security  screening  procedure  for 
projects across Horizon Europe. 

The  Commission  published  guidelines  on  tackling  R&I  foreign  interference31.  This 
document outlines best practices for supporting EU higher education institutions and research 
performing organisations in safeguarding their academic freedom, integrity and institutional 
autonomy,  as  well  as  their  research  findings  and  assets.  Within  the  G7  SIGRE  Working 
Group32,  the  Commission,  together  with  like-minded  partners,  developed  common  research 
security principles. 

To  boost  the  value  generated  from  knowledge,  the  Council  adopted  a  Recommendation  on 
guiding  principles  for  knowledge  valorisation33.  The  scientific  community’s  awareness 
about intellectual asset management, including intellectual property (IP) rights, is required for 
promoting effective use and deployment of knowledge, and for making access to and sharing 
of IP-protected assets easier. To enhance collaboration on global standards, the Commission 
can  pursue  increased  coordination  with  like-minded  partners,  drawing  on  the  Commission 
recommendations on the code of practice for the management of intellectual assets and on 
the code of practice on standardisation34. 

4.  POOLING GLOBAL EFFORTS TO TACKLE GLOBAL CHALLENGES TOGETHER 

4.1. Leading global efforts towards a just green transition 

The  EU  contributed  to  the  adoption  of  the  Kunming-Montreal  Global  Biodiversity 
Framework at the UN Conference on Biodiversity (COP 15) on 18 December 2022 and to 
the agreement on the UN High Seas Treaty in the  Intergovernmental Conference on Marine 
Biodiversity  of  Areas  Beyond  National  Jurisdiction  on  4  March  2023.  It  signed  the  All-
Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance’s Declaration to foster ocean research 
cooperation in the Atlantic and the 3rd Arctic science ministerial joint statement to further 
support  Arctic  research.  It  also  strengthened  its  involvement  in  mission  innovation;  and 
continued to promote its leading role in supporting multilateral R&I cooperation to deliver 
science-based  solutions  for  sustainable  land,  ocean  and  soil  management,  agriculture  and 
food  systems,  resource  efficiency  and  circular  economy,  bioeconomy,  climate,  forestry  and 
biodiversity policies, and Earth observation.  

The  Commission  also  set  up  an  international  knowledge  management  platform  to  share 

31 European Commission, Tackling R&I foreign interference,  14 January 2022. This is also being addressed in 
the work of the EU Knowledge Network on China. 
32  G7  Working  Group  on  the  Security  and  Integrity  of  the  Global  Research  Ecosystem,  Common  values  and 
principles on research security and research integrity, June 2022. 
33  Council  Recommendation  (EU)  2022/2415  of  2 December  2022  on  the  guiding  principles  for  knowledge 
valorisation. 
34 For instance, international collaboration on Eurocodes standards for structural engineering allows improving 
regulatory capacity and quality of infrastructure. 

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information  about  standards,  guidance  and  funding  opportunities  under  the  New  European 
Bauhaus initiative. 

To  deliver  on  the  European  Green  Deal,  further  scientific  advancements  are  critical  to 
protect and restore natural capital, decarbonise the economy and industry with chemicals and 
materials that are safe and sustainable by design, prevent and reduce pollution, modernise our 
infrastructure  and  increase  its  resilience,  protect  public  health  and  well-being,  and  design 
sustainable food and water systems. As part of its efforts to foster a fair, green and inclusive 
transition  and  in  line  with  the  Global  Gateway  strategy35  and  other  international 
commitments,  the EU also supported its partner countries to  access  environmental  data and 
monitor  and  report  on  progress  through  initiatives  aimed  at  strengthening  knowledge  and 
capacities and reinforcing the science-policy interface. 

The Joint Communication on international ocean governance36 underlined the need to build 
up ocean knowledge to  protect  and sustainably  manage the oceans.  With this goal in  mind, 
the Commission signed a political declaration37 on behalf of the EU establishing the new All-
Atlantic  Ocean  Research  and  Innovation  Alliance  with  Argentina,  Brazil,  Canada,  Cabo 
Verde, Morocco, South Africa and the US. Reflecting the international scope of the Horizon 
Europe  ‘Restore  our  Ocean  and  Waters  by  2030’  mission,  international  cooperation 
activities are carried out within the mission’s Atlantic-Arctic Lighthouse and Mediterranean 
Lighthouse, as well as with Black Sea partner countries.  

Under Mission Innovation,38 the Commission promoted the acceleration of the clean energy 
transition in line with the European Green Deal. By co-leading the Clean Hydrogen mission, 
the Commission intends to increase the cost-competitiveness of clean hydrogen by reducing 
its  end-to-end  costs  and  by  developing  at  least  100  hydrogen  valleys  worldwide  by  2030. 
With  the  support  of  the  Horizon  Europe  ‘Climate-neutral  and  smart  cities’  mission,  the 
Commission also co-leads the Urban Transitions mission to work with 300 cities worldwide 
to strengthen their net-zero visions, scale action and accelerate implementation. 

At  multilateral  level,  the  Commission  provided  evidence-informed  support  for  policy 
making,  shaped  the  agendas  and  contributed  to  the  work  of  a  number  of  organisations, 
including:  the  Group  on  Earth  Observations  –  on  making  better  use  of  European  Earth 
observation  assets  (like  Copernicus);  the  International  Bioeconomy  Forum  and  other 
multilateral  cooperation  forums  –  on  bioeconomy;  the  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate 
Change – on climate science; the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity 
and Ecosystem Services and the UN Convention on Biological Diversity39 - on biodiversity; 
the International Resource Panel and the Global Alliance on Circular Economy and Resource 

35  Joint  Communication  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  Council,  the  European  Economic  and  Social 
Committee,  the  Committee  of  the  Regions  and  the  European  Investment  Bank,  The  Global  Gateway, 
JOIN/2021/30 final. 
36 Joint Communication to the European Parliament, the Council the European Economic and Social Committee 
and the Committee of the Regions, Setting the course for a sustainable blue planet - Joint Communication on the 
EU’s International Ocean Governance agenda, JOIN(2022)28 final. 
37 SKM_80822071310280 (allatlantic2022.com) 
38 Mission Innovation is a key international forum, gathering countries responsible for 90% of public innovation 
funding for energy. 
39 The Commission will also support the establishment of a Global Knowledge Support Service. 

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Efficiency40; the UN Food Systems initiative; and the UN Global Soil Partnership through the 
Horizon Europe ‘A soil deal for Europe’ mission. 

Under  the New  European  Bauhaus (NEB),  the  Commission  set  up  an  international 
knowledge management platform to share information about standards, guidance and funding 
opportunities  in  order  to  integrate  the  dimensions  of  sustainability,  inclusion  and 
aesthetics/quality of experience in buildings and public spaces. Certain initiatives are open to 
entities  from  third  countries,  subject  to  different  conditions  of  participation:  the  New 
European  Bauhaus  Community,  the  NEB  Lab,  the  New  European  Bauhaus  Prizes,  and  the 
NEB funding opportunities under EU programmes41. 

4.2. Promoting the digital transition 

The  EU  strengthened  joint  research  activities  notably  in  key  digital  technologies  and  in 
smart  networks  and  services,  including  with  the  adoption  of  the  Single  Basic  Act 
establishing the joint undertakings under Horizon Europe42. The EU developed international 
digital  partnerships  with  Latin  America,  Japan,  the  Republic  of  Korea  and  Singapore,  in 
line with the Communication on the 2030 Digital Compass43 (see also section 5). 

The  EU  is  strong  in  industrial  research  and  development,  in  particular  in  the  automobile, 
information  and  communication  technology,  and  health  sectors,  and  has  a  solid  tradition  in 
quantum  research  and  robotics.  While  the  EU  is  strong  in  advanced  manufacturing  and 
advanced materials,  it is  necessary to reduce strategic dependencies in key technological 
fields  and  value  chains,  such  as  artificial  intelligence,  big  data,  cloud  computing, 
robotics  and  micro-electronics.  Regulation, 
cybersecurity,  secure  communications, 
governance and standardisation of digital technologies will be critical factors in maximising 
digital opportunities, while reducing the challenges or threats they pose44.  

The  EU  supports  developing  and  emerging  countries,  with  particular  attention  to  Africa, 
fostering  digital  connectivity  through  digital  economy  packages  financed  through  Team 
Europe  initiatives45.  These  packages  are  designed  to  promote  a  human-centric  model  of 
digital  development.  The  EU  has  also  increased  its  support  for  broadband  roll-out  and 
connectivity  projects  and  set  up  regional  data  centres  for  the  provision  of  space-based 
services  in  Africa,  Latin  America  and  the  Caribbean,  and  Asia,  in  line  with  the  Global 
Gateway  strategy46.  Progress  was  also  achieved  in  the  establishment  of  Digital  for 

40  At  the  5th  UN  Environment  Assembly,  a  landmark  resolution  was  adopted,  paving  the  way  for  a  global 
legally binding agreement on plastics pollution. 
41 New European Bauhaus: beautiful, sustainable, together. (europa.eu) 
42 Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon 
Europe  and  repealing  Regulations  (EC)  No  219/2007,  (EU)  No  557/2014,  (EU)  No  558/2014,  (EU)  No 
559/2014, (EU) No 560/2014, (EU) No 561/2014 and (EU) No 642/2014, (OJ L 427, 30.11.2021, p. 17). 
43 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and 
Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, 2030 Digital Compass: the European way for the Digital 
Decade, COM(2021) 118 final. 
44 Cagnin, C., Muench, S., Scapolo, F., Störmer, E., Vesnic-Alujevic, L. Shaping and securing the  EU’s open 
strategic autonomy by 2040 and beyond. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2021. 
45 Team Europe Initiative combine resources of the EU, Member States, financial institutions and private sector. 
46 The expansion of BELLA (Building the Europe Links with Latin America) or the Copernicus centres in Latin 
American countries and the Philippines are clear examples. 

8 

 
 
                                                           
Development  (D4D)  Hub47  regional  branches,  notably  in  Africa,  Latin  America  and  the 
Caribbean,  and  the  Asia  and  Pacific  regions.  With  the  launch  of  the  Digital  Alliance  with 
Latin  American  and  the  Caribbean  states  in  2023,  the  EU  reinforced  the  bi-regional  digital 
partnership  to  address  the  digital  divide  and  achieve  inclusive  digital  transformation  in  the 
region. 

By  establishing  partnerships  and  coalitions  with  like-minded  countries,  the  EU  can  shape 
ethical,  safe and inclusive international  technology  standards48. The EU has been a global 
trendsetter  in  international  discussions  on  data  protection  (General  Data  Protection 
Regulation,  Data  Governance  Act),  on  platform  economy  (Digital  Services  Act,  Digital 
Markets  Act),  on  a  human-centric  trustworthy  artificial  intelligence  (Artificial  Intelligence 
Act) and on rights and freedoms online (Media Freedom Act, Declaration for the future of the 
internet,  European  Declaration  on  digital  rights  and  principles).  It  has  negotiated  in 
multilateral  bodies49  to  improve  the  functioning  of  the  digital  economy  globally  and  to 
project EU values worldwide. It promotes a global, open, stable and secure cyberspace based 
on respect of international law and of non-binding norms, rules and principles of responsible 
state behaviour. 

4.3. Strengthening cooperation on global health 

The  Commission  adopted  the  EU  global  health  strategy  and  the  first  state  of  health 
preparedness report, contributing to the medium- and long-term agenda on health security 
and preparedness and strengthening health system. 

The  Commission  promoted  international  coordination  of  the  EU-funded  European  platform 
trials  through  the  Trials  Coordination  Board.  It  continued  cooperation  with  the  Access  to 
COVID-19 Tools Accelerator (ACT-A), funded research on COVID-19 and other infectious 
diseases, and supported the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). 

The  EU  established  the  third  programme  of  the  European  and  Developing  Countries 
Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) as a joint undertaking under Horizon Europe, to tackle 
infectious diseases and public health emergencies in sub-Saharan Africa. 

The  EU  global  health  strategy50  identifies  R&I  as  key  enablers  for  better  health,  together 
with digitalisation and a skilled labour force. This strategy was accompanied by the first state 
of  health  preparedness  report51,  which  highlights  the  progress  made  in  the  fields  of 
preparedness  and  response,  including  in  international  R&I  cooperation,  since  the  start  of 
the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing in particular on medical countermeasures. 

The  Commission  continued  its  cooperation  with  the  Access  to  COVID-19  Tools 
Accelerator 
funding 
like-minded 
organisations,  within  and  outside  Europe,  through  European  partnerships  and  international 

international  health  R&I 

(ACT-A)52  and  with 

47 https://d4dhub.eu/ 
48 Council Conclusions on EU Digital Diplomacy, document 11406/22. 
49  E.g.,  G7,  G20,  OECD,  International  Telecommunications  Union,  International  Organization  for 
Standardization, International Electrotechnical Commission, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. 
50https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7153 
51https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7154 
52 https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/act-accelerator-outcomes-report--2020-22  

9 

 
 
                                                           
alliances53.  The  Commission  stepped  up  preparations  for  new  European  partnerships  with 
international partners54 and continued to support international engagements at regional level, 
such as the EU-Africa PerMed initiative between the EU and African countries55. 

The  ‘Global  Health  EDCTP3’  is  the  third  programme  of  the  European  and  Developing 
Countries  Clinical  Trials  Partnership  and  is  established  as  a  joint  undertaking  under 
Horizon  Europe56.  With  a  growing  membership  currently  including  15  European  and  25 
African countries, the joint undertaking aims to accelerate the clinical development of new or 
improved  health  technology  products  for  the  identification,  treatment  and  prevention  of 
poverty-related  and  neglected  infectious  diseases,  including  (re-)emerging  diseases,  in  sub-
Saharan  Africa.  All  Global  Health  EDCTP3  grants  require  beneficiaries  to  ensure  that  the 
products or services developed thanks to clinical studies are made available, affordable and 
accessible to the public on fair and reasonable terms. 

4.4. Promoting innovation 

The Global Approach Communication recognises the importance of international cooperation 
in innovation and promotes win-win international innovation partnerships with countries and 
regions that offer reciprocal openness to entrepreneurship and investment, for example with 
stakeholders in the US (Silicon Valley) and in Africa (AU–EU innovation agenda). 

The  international  dimension  of  the  new  European  innovation  agenda57  contributes  to 
fostering, attracting and retaining talent worldwide and involving key international partners in 
the implementation of relevant initiatives. This requires an improved framework for attracting 
foreign  entrepreneurs,  including  more  favourable  treatment  of  equity,  simplified  listing 
procedures,  more  capital  available  from  institutional  investors  and  more  opportunities  for 
women in venture investment.  

The  EU’s  global  outreach  in  innovation  is  further  strengthened  by  the  activities  of  the 
European  Institute  of  Innovation  and  Technology  (EIT),  which  has  recently  updated  its 
strategic  framework58  to  align  it  with  the  Global  Approach  Communication.  At  the  same 
time,  the  European  Innovation  Council  (EIC)  is  promoting  its  overseas  trade  fairs 
programme,  which  helps  EIC  beneficiaries  to  promote  their  commercialisation  strategy  in 
foreign  markets  and  make  use  of  business  opportunities  at  the  most  popular  international 
trade fairs. 

5.  MODULATING COOPERATION WITH PRIORITY COUNTRIES AND REGIONS 

53 Notably: the informal network of Heads of International health Research Organisations; the Global Research 
Collaboration for Infectious  Disease Preparedness; the  Global Alliance on  Chronic Diseases, the International 
Rare  Diseases  Research  Consortium,  and  the  International  Consortium  for  Personalised  Medicine.  The 
Commission also supported the Epidemic Intelligence from Open Sources (EIOS) initiative. 
54  This  includes:  the  Joint  Programming  Initiative  on  Antimicrobial  Resistance  and  a  new  future  European 
partnership  on  Antimicrobial  Resistance;  Joint  Programming  Initiative  on  Neurodegenerative  Diseases, 
European Joint Programme on rare diseases and a new future European partnership on rare diseases. 
55 EU-Africa PerMed project aims at building links between Europe and Africa in Personalised Medicine. 
56  https://www.globalhealth-edctp3.eu/ 
57 Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council , the European Economic and 
Social  Committee and the Committee of the  Regions,  A New European Innovation  Agenda,  COM(2022) 332 
final. 
58 20190605-gb57-17-strategic_framework_for_eit_community_global_outreach_activities.pdf (europa.eu) 

10 

 
 
                                                           
More  than  20%  of  topics  under  Horizon  Europe  specifically  targeted  international 
cooperation,  fostering  synergies  with  other  EU  programmes, 
the 
Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI). 

in  particular 

Due  to  the  consequences  of  Russia’s  war  of  aggression  against  Ukraine,  the  Commission 
focused  on  dedicated  support  measures  for  Ukraine  and  facilitated  its  participation  in 
Horizon Europe and Euratom, including the set up a Horizon Europe office in Kyiv. The EU-
Ukraine  science  and  technology  cooperation  agreement  was  renewed  in  2022  making  it 
effective as of 8 November 2019 for a period of five years. 

For the first time ever, all Western Balkans partners are now associated to Horizon Europe. 
Relations focus on  implementation  of the  Western Balkans  agenda on  innovation,  research, 
culture, education, youth and sport59. 

Based on current discussions on the joint roadmap for EU-China cooperation in science, 
technology  and  innovation, the EU and China will cooperate on two  research  flagships  in 
areas of mutual interest, while having a restricted approach on innovation-related actions. 

Together  with  the  African  Union  (AU),  the  EU  has  developed  a  draft  joint  AU-EU 
innovation agenda and endorsed the Union for the Mediterranean ministerial declaration. 
It  launched  a  dedicated  ‘Africa  Initiative’  and  ‘Mediterranean  Initiative’  under  Horizon 
Europe, each with a total EU investment of around EUR 300 million. 

The EU has stepped up bilateral relations with the United States through the EU-US Trade 
and Technology Council, with  Canada, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea notably 
through negotiations on association to Horizon Europe, with Japan including in the context 
of the Japanese G7 Presidency in 2023, and with India with the launch of the EU-India Trade 
and Technology Council. 

The  Commission  has  continued  to  implement  the  EU-CELAC60  strategic  roadmap  on 
science,  technology  and  innovation  for  2021-2023  and  will  discuss  future  cooperation  in 
the second half of 2023. The EU has also endorsed a 2023-2027 plan of action to implement 
the ASEAN-EU strategic partnership and committed to promoting cooperation in the Indo-
Pacific, including with Australia, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and Singapore. 

5.1. Strengthening  cooperation  with  industrialised  non-EU  countries  and  emerging 

economies 

Cooperation  with  the  United  States  has  been  significantly  strengthened  in  line  with  the 
ambition set out in the Global Approach Communication and in the Joint Communication on 
a  new  EU-US  agenda  for  global  change61.  The  EU-US  summit  in  June  2021  formally 
launched  the  EU-US  Trade  and  Technology  Council  (EU-US  TTC),  which  led  to  new  and 
active  work  streams  in  standards-setting,  quantum  and  artificial  intelligence  and  research 

59  EU  and  the  Western  Balkans  launch  a  joint  strategy  to  strengthen  cooperation  in  innovation,  research, 
education, culture, youth and sport (europa.eu) 
60 CELAC is the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States. 
61  Joint  communication  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  European  Council  and  the  Council,  A  new  EU-US 
agenda for global change, JOIN(2020)22 final. 

11 

 
 
                                                           
relating  to  climate  and  clean  technology.  An  active  work  steam  on  electro-mobility  and 
interoperability with smart grids under the EU-US TTC working group on climate and clean 
tech prepared recommendations for public electro-mobility charging infrastructure.  

In line with the multifaceted approach of the Joint Communication ‘EU-China - A Strategic 
Outlook’62, the Commission has further stepped up its effort to re-calibrate R&I cooperation 
with  China.  Discussions  are  ongoing  on  a  joint  roadmap  for  the  future  of  EU-China 
cooperation  in  science,  technology  and  innovation,  including  on  a  set  of  framework 
conditions. The scope of EU-China R&I cooperation reflects the fact that systemic rivalry has 
gained in importance and that discussions on the roadmap show positive results on research-
related  framework  conditions63  but  a  lack  of  progress  on  innovation-related  framework 
conditions.64  Consequently,  in  the  2023-2024  Horizon  Europe  work  programme,  EU-
China  R&I  cooperation  continues  through  two  research  flagship  initiatives,  one  on  food, 
agriculture, and biotechnology, and one on climate change and biodiversity. However, given 
the  significant  concerns  regarding  the  use  of  intellectual  property  generated  under  Horizon 
Europe,  Article  22(6) of  the  Horizon  Europe  Regulation  has  been  applied  to  prevent  the 
participation of Chinese entities in innovation actions65.  

With  Canada,  Australia  and  New  Zealand,  cooperation  continued  in  areas  of  mutual 
priority, such as health and the green and digital transitions. In line with the EU strategy for 
cooperation  with  the  Indo-Pacific,  the  Commission  has  concluded  international  digital 
partnerships66 with  Japan, the Republic of Korea and Singapore.  Cooperation with  India 
has gained momentum with the launch of an EU-India Trade and Technology Council67 that 
will  focus on  digital,  green and clean  energy technologies, as well as  on trade and resilient 
value chains. India has also agreed to set up a co-funding mechanism for specific topics in the 
2023-24 Horizon Europe work programme.  

EU-Brazil  R&I  cooperation  saw  the  five-year  renewal  of  the  bilateral  scientific  and 
technological  agreement  and  the  signature  of  an  administrative  arrangement  with  three 
Brazilian  research  funding  agencies  to  establish  a  co-funding  mechanism  for  Brazilian 
entities participating in Horizon Europe. EU-Mexico bilateral cooperation allowed the launch 
of  the  ‘Puerta  Horizonte  Europa-Mexico’,  which  provides  support  and  co-funding  for 
Mexican  participation  in  Horizon  Europe,  while  an  administrative  arrangement  with 
Argentina on Copernicus is expected to be signed in 2023. The bilateral EU-Chile science 
and technology cooperation agreement was tacitly renewed until 2027.  

5.2. Integrating cooperation within the EU’s neighbourhood 

62  Joint  communication  to  the  European  Parliament,  the  European  Council  and  the  Council,  EU-China:  a 
strategic outlook, JOIN(2019)5 final. 
63 These include open science, research ethics and integrity, mobility of researchers, and gender equality in R&I. 
64 These include intellectual property rights, pre-normative research, conformity assessment and standardisation, 
access to government procurements, fair and transparent regulatory frameworks. 
65 Innovation actions are actions with a high level of technological development and closer to the market. 
66  Key  topics  included  in  the  scope  of  each  Partnership:  Semiconductors  supply  chain  resilience;  5G/6G; 
Cybersecurity; Platforms, Data and AI regulation; Digital Trade; Digital identity and digital signatures; Closing 
the digital skills gap and digital inclusion. 
67 EU-India: new Trade and Technology Council (europa.eu)  

12 

 
 
                                                           
The  implementation  of  the  Western  Balkans  agenda  on  innovation,  research,  culture, 
education, youth and sport progressed well. The agenda aims to promote scientific excellence 
and  to  reform  the  region’s  education  systems,  creating  opportunities  for  youth  and  helping 
prevent  brain  drain.  For  the  first  time  ever,  all  Western  Balkans  partners  are  associated  to 
Horizon Europe. 

At the first Union for the Mediterranean ministerial conference on R&I, three R&I roadmaps 
on  health,  climate  change  and  renewable  energy  were  endorsed68.  The  2023-24  Horizon 
Europe work programme launched a ‘Mediterranean initiative’ targeting climate change and 
renewable  energy,  and  encouraging  the  participation  of  entities  established  in  Southern 
the  Mediterranean 
Mediterranean  countries.  R&I  cooperation  continues 
Lighthouse  of  the  Horizon  Europe  mission  ‘Restore  our  Ocean  and  Water  by  2030’,  the 
BlueMed  initiative,  the  Sustainable  Blue  Economy  Partnership  and  the  Partnership  for 
Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)69. 

through 

In light of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, Eastern Partnership regional R&I 
cooperation  proved  to  be  more  important  than  ever  for  promoting  in  the  region  the  values 
and  principles  for  R&I.  The  R&I  dimension  of  the  Eastern  Partnership  aims  to  boost  the 
innovation  capacities  of  partner  countries  by  integrating  them  more  with  EU  R&I  systems, 
given the European perspective of Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. 

R&I  cooperation  with  Switzerland  and  the  United  Kingdom  continues;  in  the  latter  case, 
cooperation  opportunities  would  be  further  enhanced  after  the  conclusion  of  its  Horizon 
Europe association process.  

5.3. Deepening EU partnerships with Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and 

Southeast Asia 

The Commission has delivered on its commitment to boost support for R&I cooperation with 
Africa,  by  developing  a  draft  joint  AU-EU  innovation  agenda  together  with  the  African 
Union  (AU)  Commission  and  Member  States.  This  agenda  was  acknowledged  in  the  final 
declaration of the 6th EU-AU summit of Heads of State and Government  in February 2022, 
was  discussed  in  a  stakeholder  dialogue  in  November  2022  and  was  endorsed  at  a  senior 
officials’  meeting  on  4  May  2023.  Following  the  successful  ‘Africa  Initiative’  under  the 
2021-22  Horizon  Europe  work  programme,  the  Commission  has  adopted  a  new  ‘Africa 
Initiative  II’  under  the  2023-24  Horizon  Europe  work  programme70.  In  addition,  the 
Commission launched the Africa Knowledge Platform71, a gateway to data and information 
on Africa’s social, economic and environmental development, to support integrated analysis 
for policy making. 

The  Global  Gateway  Africa-Europe  investment  package,  which  was  announced  at  the 
above-mentioned  6th  EU-AU  summit,  supports  the  AU-EU  innovation  agenda,  regional 

68 UfM-Ministerial-Declaration-RI-EN-270622.pdf (ufmsecretariat.org) 
69 See  respectively:  http://www.bluemed-initiative.eu/, https://bluepartnership.eu/, and  PRIMA: Partnership  for 
Research & Innovation in the Mediterranean area (prima-med.org) 
70  For  example,  the  Commission  continued  the  development  of  the  Long-Term  Joint  EU-African  Union 
Research and Innovation Partnership on Renewable Energy and extended its scope to renewable hydrogen. 
71 Africa Platform (europa.eu) 

13 

 
 
                                                           
centres of excellence on green transition in Sub-Saharan Africa, Earth observation and space 
technologies, and investments in education and digital connectivity72. Flagship initiatives are 
being developed in line with the priorities of the NDICI73, such as the EU-AU Data Flagship, 
the African-European Digital Innovation Bridge, the EurAfrica Gateway to connect Africa’s 
coasts, and the future network of fibre-optic cables to improve regional digital infrastructures 
in Western, Eastern and Southern Africa. Other examples are the Team Europe initiatives on 
manufacturing  and  access  to  medicines,  vaccines  and  health  technology;  on  sexual  and 
reproductive  health  and  rights  in  Sub-Saharan  Africa;  on  health  security/OneHealth;  digital 
health and public health institutes. 

For  the  Community  of  Latin  American  and  Caribbean  States  (CELAC),  the  focus  has 
been  on  implementation  of  the  EU-CELAC  strategic  roadmap  on  science,  technology  and 
innovation for 2021-202374. The first EU-CELAC summit of Heads of State and Government 
in  8  years  will  take  place  on  17-18  July  2023  and  will  be  followed  by  a  senior  officials 
meeting of the EU-CELAC joint initiative on R&I in the second half of 2023, paving the way 
for a ministerial meeting on research and innovation. 

The  Joint  Leaders’  Statement75  at  the  EU-ASEAN  Commemorative  Summit  on  14 
December  2022  called  for  deepening  collaboration  in  education,  science,  technology  and 
innovation.  It  also  endorsed  the  2023-2027  Plan  of  Action  to  implement  the  ASEAN-EU 
Strategic  Partnerships76,  which  highlights  green  technologies,  space  and  marine  areas  as 
priorities  for  R&I  cooperation.  The  EU  has  announced  the  launch  of  a  EUR  10  billion 
investment package under the Global Gateway in the ASEAN region through a Team Europe 
approach, contributing to EU objectives in the Indo-Pacific region. 

5.4. Consequences of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine 

The  Russian  war  of  aggression  against  Ukraine  is  a  violation  of  international  law, 
undermining both European and global security and stability. The EU decided not to engage 
into  further  R&I  cooperation  with  Russian  entities.  The  participation  of  Russian  public 
entities in ongoing or future projects were terminated.77 Sanctions and measures exclude all 
legal  entities  established  in  Russia,  Belarus,  or  in  non-government  controlled  territories  of 
Ukraine  from  participation  in  the  programme  in  any  capacity.  However,  natural  persons 
established  in  Russia,  Belarus,  or  in  non-government  controlled  territories  of  Ukraine  may 
still participate in Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions allowing people-to-people contacts with 

72 Digital connectivity focuses on connecting Europe and Africa via submarine cables, Africa's regions via fibre 
optic  backbones  and  unserved  regions  via  satellite  communication,  and  on  supporting  digital  innovation 
ecosystems in the region. 
73  Regulation  (EU) 2021/947  of  the  European  Parliament  and  of  the  Council  of  9  June  2021  establishing  the 
Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument – Global Europe. 
74 EU-CELAC 2021-2023 Strategic Roadmap 
75 eu-asean-leaders-statement.pdf (europa.eu) 
76 Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-EU Strategic Partnership (2023-2027).pdf (europa.eu) 
77 117 participations from Russian (public or public-related) entities were terminated mainly based on the fifth 
sanction package, see Article 5l of Council Regulation (EU) No 833/2014 of 31 July 2014 concerning restrictive 
measures  in  view  of  Russia’s  actions  destabilising  the  situation  in  Ukraine  (OJ  L  229,  31.07.2014, p.1). This 
article  foresees  some  exceptions,  for  example  in  the  field  of  space  and  nuclear  cooperation.  37  Belarussian 
participations in Horizon Europe were terminated in 2022, based on Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1986 of 15 
November 2021 amending Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 concerning restrictive measures in respect of Belarus. 

14 

 
 
                                                           
the  Russian  and  Belarussian  scientific  community  to  be  maintained.  In  this  context,  the 
situation of Russian and Belarussian scientists who are in difficulties because they oppose the 
war  or  the  regime  is  acknowledged,  in  line  with  the  G7  science  ministers’  communiqué  of 
June 202278. 

The  Commission  focussed  on  setting  up  dedicated  support  measures  for  Ukraine79  and 
facilitated  Ukraine’s  participation  in  Horizon  Europe  and  Euratom  calls.  A  dedicated 
fellowship  scheme,  MSCA4Ukraine,  supports  displaced  researchers  from  Ukraine  and 
enables  them  to  continue  their  research  activities  in  the  EU.  The  EU-Ukraine  science  and 
technology  cooperation  agreement  was renewed  in  2022, for  5  years with retroactive effect 
from  8  November  2019.  In  line  with  the  evolving  political  context,  the  Commission  will 
continue  to  coordinate  with  the  Member  States  and  advocate  for  the  role  of  R&I  in  the 
political and operational frameworks linked to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction, as also 
underlined by the G7 science and technology ministers’ communiqué of May 202380. 

6.  CONCLUSIONS 

This  first  biennial  report on the implementation of the Global  Approach  to  R&I  shows that 
the  EU  has  made  significant  progress  in  implementing  the  actions  identified  in  the  Global 
Approach  Communication  and  in  strengthening  Europe’s  position  in  the  world.  The  EU 
preserved openness in international R&I cooperation and promoted a multilateral dialogue on 
values and principles. It successfully implemented the new provisions for the association of 
non-EU  countries  to  Horizon  Europe.  The  EU  developed  joint  commitments  with 
international  partners,  helping  to  shape  global  governance.  It  assertively  safeguarded  its 
strategic  assets,  interests,  autonomy  and  security,  while  enhancing  the  EU  open  strategic 
autonomy. The EU used its leading role in promoting multilateral R&I cooperation to deliver 
science-based solutions to promote the fair green and digital transitions and health security, 
preparedness  and  response  to  crises,  while  developing  international  partnerships  to  reduce 
strategic  dependencies  in  key  technological  areas  and  value  chains.  It  established 
international  innovation  partnerships  with  countries  and  regions  that  offer  reciprocal 
openness to entrepreneurship and investment.  

Against  the  backdrop  of  a  complex  and  dynamically  evolving  geopolitical  environment, 
exacerbated by the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the Global Approach to R&I 
proved  its  effectiveness  and  relevance  and  continues  to  be  the  appropriate  strategic 
framework  for  international  R&I  cooperation.  Science  and  technology  are  taking  an 
increasingly important role in foreign policy. More synergies have to be sought with the EU 
external  action,  in  particular  with  the  Global  Gateway.  In  addition,  a  further  reflection  on 
how to promote science diplomacy in Europe should be considered. Finally, the Commission 
will  continue  monitoring  the  implementation  of  the  Global  Approach  Communication  and 
will report to the Council and the European Parliament in the second biennial report due in 
2025. 

78 Microsoft Word - G7 Science Ministers Declaration_20220613 (bundesregierung.de) 
79 ERA4Ukraine offers an overview of all existing actions at European and national level, including 
MSCA4Ukraine, ERC job offers and the JRC-EUI (European University Institute) fellowship scheme. 
80 https://www8.cao.go.jp/cstp/kokusaiteki/g7_2023/230513_g7_communique.pdf  

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