REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Second biennial report on the implementation of the Global Approach to Research and Innovation 2023-2025
Date: 2026-02-27
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Subjects: EU research policy, Framework Programme for Research and Development, geopolitics, innovation, international cooperation, research and development, scientific cooperation, strategic autonomy, third country, twin transition

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  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 27.2.2026  COM(2026) 96 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT Second biennial report on the implementation of the  Global Approach to Research and Innovation 2023-2025  
 
 
1.  INTRODUCTION 

The Communication on the Global Approach to Research and Innovation (R&I)1 was adopted 
in May 2021, at a time when the world was considerably different from what it is today. Still, 
its  broad  objectives  and  principles  remain  valid,  such  as  defending  and  promoting 
fundamental  R&I  values,  working  towards  a  level  playing  field  and  reciprocity  in 
international  R&I  cooperation,  tackling  global  challenges  such  as  climate  change, 
biodiversity  loss  and  global  health  crises  together,  and  adopting  a  nuanced  and  modulated 
approach to cooperating with non-EU countries and regions. 

International  R&I  cooperation  increases  excellence  and  competitiveness,  provides  access  to 
international  expertise  through  mobility  and  cooperation,  develops  solutions  to  global 
challenges  and  promotes  shared  scientific  and  technical  standards,  thereby  reducing  trade 
barriers  and  increasing  access  to  potential  markets.  It  also  builds  political  and  diplomatic 
capital,  and  contributes  to  the  EU’s  geopolitical  objectives.  Its  promotion  is  enshrined  in 
Article 180 (b) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.  

The EU needs to be more assertive at pursuing its strategic interests in an age of geostrategic 
rivalries, while strengthening its cooperation with like-minded partners2. The implementation 
of  the  Global  Approach  therefore  needs  to  factor  in  both  the  new  geopolitical  realities  and 
groundbreaking  developments  in  science  and  technology.  The  first  biennial  implementation 
report,  adopted  in  2023,  responded  to  such  realities,  for  example  by  highlighting  the  EU 
support to Ukraine following the launch of Russia’s full-scale illegal invasion.  

Over  the  past  two  years,  the  EU  has  taken  firm  steps  to  respond  to  these  challenges  by 
adopting  key  initiatives  which  aim  to  ensure  that  the  EU  remains  at  the  cutting-edge  of 
innovation  and  that  its  R&I  system  remains  both  open  and  secure3.  The  EU  is  and  will 
continue to be the guardian of multilateralism, a rules-based international order and evidence-
informed  policymaking  –  crucial  in  today’s  world  to  defend  core  principles  of  democracy, 
including more resilient and strong democratic societies. As the principles and values the EU 
stands for are increasingly under threat worldwide, more than ever before the EU must stand 
up for academic freedom  and freedom  of scientific research as  well as  for diversity, equity 
and inclusion. This includes promoting equality and non-discrimination for women as well as 
other  groups  at  heightened  risk  of  discrimination,  and  ensuring  their  full  and  effective 
participation  in  R&I  systems. These values are not  only  a moral imperative, but  are among 
the strongest assets the EU has in the global competition for talent. 

1 COM (2021) 252 final. 
2 https://commission.europa.eu/document/download/833e082a-0c39-4bc6-a119-
e0760ebc7360_en?filename=mission-letter-zaharieva.pdf  
3  Examples  include  the  Economic  Security  Strategy  (JOIN(2023)  20  final),  the  Council  Recommendation  on 
enhancing Research Security (C/2024/3510), the Joint Communication “Strenghtening EU Economic Security” 
(JOIN(2025)  977  final),  the  Competitiveness  Compass  (COM(2025)  30  final),  the  Startups  and  Scaleups 
Strategy  (SWD(2025)  138  final),  the  European  Strategy  on  Research  and  Technology  Infrastructures 
(COM(2025) 497 final/2), the European Strategy for Artificial Intelligence in Science (COM(2025) 724 final), 
the  Clean 
initiative 
(https://commission.europa.eu/topics/research-and-innovation/choose-europe_en).  

the  Choose  Europe 

Industrial  Deal 

(COM(2025) 

final), 

and 

85 

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This  report  offers  an  overview  of  the  Commission’s  work  in  implementing  the  Global 
Approach  to  R&I,  and  the  related  Council  Conclusions4  since  the  publication  of  the  first 
biennial  implementation  report  in  20235.  It  aims  to  provide  a  snapshot  of  how  the  EU  is 
responding  to  new  challenges  and  demands  in  R&I  in  an  increasingly  competitive  and 
volatile international landscape, thereby defending its strategic interests. 

2.  REAFFIRMING  EU  COMMITMENT  TO  INTERNATIONAL  OPENNESS  AND  FUNDAMENTAL 

VALUES IN RESEARCH AND INNOVATION 

Together  with  partners  worldwide,  the  EU  has  implemented  the  Multilateral  Dialogue  on 
Principles and Values for International R&I Cooperation, resulting in the endorsement of the 
Brussels  Statement  at  an  international  ministerial  conference  in  February  2024.  The 
Commission  has  suggested  initiating  the  next  phase  of  the  dialogue,  by  broadening  its 
geographic  outreach  and  thematic  breadth.  The  Commission  has  also  begun  to  developa 
European framework for science diplomacy, delivering a report with expert recommendations 
drawn up jointly by scientists and diplomats. With the association of New Zealand, Canada, 
the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Egypt to Horizon Europe, the 
EU has successfully continued to create strong links in R&I with key partners abroad. 

2.1 Principles and values in international R&I cooperation 

Following the launch of the Multilateral Dialogue on Principles and Values for International 
R&I Cooperation in July 2022, the Commission  engaged with its global partners to discuss 
matters  related  to  research  excellence,  knowledge  valorisation,  research  security,  and 
equitable  R&I  partnerships  with  low-  and  middle-income  countries.  This  culminated  in  an 
international ministerial conference held under the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the 
EU  in  February  2024,  which  endorsed  a  ministerial  statement  on  principles  and  values  for 
international R&I cooperation, known as the Brussels Statement6.  

Following the request in the Council conclusions on the Global Approach to R&I to develop 
a  European  Science  Diplomacy  Agenda7  and 
the 
Competitiveness  Council  of  July  2023,  the  Commission  tasked  a  group  of  scientists  and 
diplomats with putting forward specific  recommendations  for a future European  framework 
for  science  diplomacy8.  The  recommendations  developed  by  the  130  science  diplomacy 
experts,  proposing  strategic,  operational  and  enabling  instruments  needed  to  support 

the  subsequent  discussion 

in 

4 12301/21 RECH 425. 
5  For  example,  Much  more  than  a  market  (the  Letta  report),  The  Future  of  European  Competitiveness  (the 
Draghi report), Safer Together – Strengthening Europe’s Civilian and Military Preparedness and Readiness (the 
Niinistö report), Align, Act, Accelerate (the Heitor report). 
6 See https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/download/94d6bb42-1fe7-478c-b6b4-
d0be4dfb0204_en?filename=brussels-ministerial-statement-2024-02.pdf. The Republic of Türkiye endorsed the 
ministerial statement without the Annex. 
7 12301/21 RECH 425. 
8 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-research-and-innovation-news/launch-eu-science-
diplomacy-working-groups-results-call-expressions-interest-published-2023-12-06_en  

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European  leadership  in  science  diplomacy,  were  published  in  February  2025  in  an  expert 
report9. A  major  milestone  in  this  process  was  the  first  European  Science  Diplomacy 
Conference in  December 2023, which allowed the European science diplomacy community 
to reflect on a strategic approach10. 

Targeted  workshops  and  discussions,  including  on  science  diplomacy  in  the  Mediterranean 
and  transboundary  Nile  River  water  management,  were  supported  by  the  Commission  to 
show the value of science diplomacy in  action. In October 2025, the first AU-EU Dialogue 
on Science Diplomacy  was organised, leading  to  the recognition  of science diplomacy as  a 
new  track  in  the  High-Level  Policy  Dialogue  on  Science,  Technology  and  Innovation 
between  the  African  Union  and  the  European  Union.  In  addition,  the  Commission  has 
supported the EU Science Diplomacy Alliance11 which brings together leading institutions on 
the matter. 

In  April  2024,  the  EU  signed  up  to  the  Organisation  for  Economic  Co-operation  and 
Development  (OECD)  Ministeral  Declaration  on  Transformative  Science,  Technology  and 
Innovation Policies for a Sustainable and Inclusive Future, reinforcing shared principles and 
values  in  international  R&I  cooperation,  including  reciprocity,  transparency,  accountability, 
and mutual benefit12. The EU is co-chairing the G7 Open Science working group contributing 
to  international  alignment  and  collaboration  on  open  science  policy  development  and 
implementation. The EU and its Member States have also provided support for researchers at 
risk, most notably through the SAFE project13. 

In line with the European Parliament esolution of 17 January 2024, the Commission launched 
a  dedicated  study  to  provide  an  evidence  base  for  a  legislative  proposal  on  promoting  and 
protecting  the  freedom  of  scientific  research  in  the  EU,  published  in  October  202514.  The 
Commission  has  internationally  promoted  the  European  Code  of  Conduct  for  Research 
Integrity15  and  the  Global  Code  of  Conduct  for  Equitable  Research  Partnerships16,  has 
continued  to  organise  the  National  Ethics  Council  (NEC)  Forum  twice  a  year,  and  has 
actively participated in the Volunteers in Research and Ethics (VolREthics)17 initiative. The 
implementation of the Gender Equality Plan (GEP)  eligibility criterion in Horizon Europe18 
has been a key step in advancing gender equality in R&I, including at international level.  

2.2. The international dimension of Horizon Europe  

Participation  in  the  Framework  Programme  through  association  is  the  closest  form  of  R&I 
cooperation  with  non-EU  countries.  In  July  2023,  New  Zealand  became  the  first  country 

9 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/download/0841de12-0dd2-4459-b59c-
050943c04acd_en  
10 https://eu-science-diplomacy.service-facility.eu/  
11 https://www.science-diplomacy.eu/  
12 https://legalinstruments.oecd.org/en/instruments/OECD-LEGAL-0501.  
13 https://saferesearchers.eu/  
14 https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/0ad627da-a7ed-11f0-a7c5-01aa75ed71a1/language-en 
15 https://allea.org/code-of-conduct/  
16 https://www.globalcodeofconduct.org/  
17 https://www.inserm.fr/en/ethics/volrethics/  
18 Implemented as of the calls for proposals with deadlines of 2022 onwards. 

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beyond the EU’s vicinity to associate to  Horizon Europe, followed by the United Kingdom 
and Canada in 2024 and the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, and Egypt in 2025. Association 
negotiations have been concluded with Japan and exploratory talks have been initiated with 
Australia. 

Horizon Europe Pillar I stands out for its international dimension, with 8.7% of participants 
coming from non-associated non-EU countries, followed by Pillar II (5.5%), Pillar III (2.5%), 
and  finally  the  Widening  Participation  and  Strengthening  the  European  Research  Area 
(WIDERA) Actions (2.4%). Associated countries host 11.8 % of participants in Pillar I, 9.7% 
of  participants  in  Pillar  II,  7.8%  of  participants  in  Pillar  III  and  14.8%  of  participants  in 
WIDERA actions19.  

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), Horizon Europe’s most international component, 
are  essential  for  establishing  international  R&I  partnerships.  Among  researchers  selected 
under  MSCA  fellowships,  46%  were  non-EU,  namely  37%  from  non-associated  non-EU 
countries,  and  9%  from  associated  countries.  MSCA  represent  about  50%  of  the  total 
participation of organisations from non-associated non-EU countries in Horizon Europe. For 
many  countries,  over  50%  of  their  total  participation  in  Horizon  Europe  projects  occurs 
through  MSCA.  A  new  Coordination  and  Support  Action  was  launched  in  May  2025  to 
strengthen international cooperation and global participation in MSCA20. 

To  leverage  their  role  as  nodes  of  international  R&I  cooperation,  the  EU  has  continued  to 
finance  transnational  access  to  research  infrastructures,  including  those  run  by  the 
Commission’s Joint Research Centre21, also for users from non-associated non-EU countries. 
The  EU  also  promotes  international  access  in  the  G7  Group  of  Senior  Officials  on  Global 
Research  Infrastructures22.  In  2024,  the  Commission  endorsed  the  Brisbane  Statement23 
encouraging all research infrastructure stakeholders to intensify collaboration in international 
research  infrastructures  to  address  global  challenges.  In  September  2025,  the  Commission 
adopted  a  European  Strategy  for  Research  and  Technology  Infrastructures  that  includes 
actions to strengthen their international dimension. 

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

FIELD AND RECIPROCITY 

To  keep  international  R&I  cooperation  open  and  secure,  the  EU  adopted  a  Council 
recommendation on enhancing research security in 2024 to work towards a level playing field 
in  the  European  Research  Area.  The  EU  has  taken  firm  steps  to  increase  its  resilience  to 
foreign  interference  and  coercion  by  carrying  out  assessments  of  critical  technologies, 
promoting R&I investment in these areas, restricting access to Horizon Europe when strictly 

19 Figures according to the Horizon Europe dashboard on 02/07/2025. 
20 MSCA Global Cooperation: Policy Enhancement and Strategic Promotion (https://msca-glopol.eu/)  
21 https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/tools-and-laboratories/open-access-jrc-research-infrastructures_en  
22 https://www.gsogri.org/  
23 https://icri2024.au/about-icri/brisbane-statement/  

4 

 
 
 
 
needed, and putting new strategic partnerships in place. 

Researchers are increasingly exposed to security risks when cooperating internationally, with 
European R&I being confronted with foreign interference and information manipulation, and 
the potential for misuse in ways that can affect the EU’s security or infringe upon EU values 
and fundamental rights. With the Council recommendation on enhancing research security24, 
adopted in May 2024, the EU now has a sound basis for addressing the security risks related 
to  international  R&I  cooperation.  With  this  recommendation,  which  covers  not  only  the 
Commission and the Member States, but also public research funders and universities, the EU 
has developed, for the first time, a common definition of research security risks, together with 
a common approach to research risk assessment. In October 2025, the Commission organised 
the first European Flagship Conference on Research Security to facilitate the sharing of best 
practices. 

The  work  on  research  security  is  part  of  a  broader  effort  to  improve  the  EU’s  economic 
security25. In particular, research security should help to prevent technology leakage, namely 
the undesirable transfer of critical knowledge and technology through international academic 
cooperation, while at the same time preserving the EU’s approach to academic freedom and 
freedom of scientific research.  

A  key  part  of  this  work  involves  assessing  the  risks  related  to  certain  enabling  or  critical 
technologies,  such  as  artificial  intelligence  (AI),  biotechnology,  advanced  semiconductors 
and  quantum,  a  process  undertaken  with  the  involvement  of  the  Member  States  and  other 
stakeholders. While these critical technology assessments go beyond R&I policy, the output 
of  this  work  is  set  to  also  shape  international  R&I  cooperation  in  the  years  ahead.  The 
Commission  is  working  with  like-minded  countries  on  economic  security,  promoting  the 
EU’s own critical technologies capabilities, and putting in place various safeguards to protect 
the EU against their potential misuse.  

In January 2024, the Commission published a White Paper on options for enhancing support 
for  research  and  development  involving  technologies  with  dual  use  potential26.  Since  then, 
several  strategic  documents  have  provided  further  input  into  the  reflection  on  dual  use 
research and development, considering the risks of international R&I cooperation depending 
on the research rationale and dual use potential27.  

The  Commission  has  also  taken  further  steps  to  make  Horizon  Europe  research  security-
proof, by limiting participation, on an exceptional basis, to entities from Member States and 
certain  non-EU  countries  in  the areas of quantum technologies, AI communication network 

24 C/2024/3510. 
25 See JOIN(2023) 20 final and JOIN(2025) 977 final. 
26 COM(2024) 27 final. 
27 See https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/news/all-research-and-innovation-news/new-publications-
dual-use-provide-strategic-input-future-eu-ri-policies-2025-06-25_en  

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technologies,  batteries,  space  and  critical  raw  materials28.  In  the  Horizon  Europe  work 
programme  2023-2024,  Article  22(5)  of  the  Horizon  Europe  Regulation  was  applied  to  33 
topics29, whereas in the work programme 2025, it  was applied to 37 topics in total. Further 
measures  in  place  are,  for  example,  additional  obligations  on  the  exploitation  of  research 
results  and  the  Commission’s  right  to  object  to  the  transfer  of  intellectural  property  (IP)  to 
countries outside the EU and not associated to the Programme30. 

The  Commission  has  also  decided  to  restrict  access  to  close-to-market  research  for  non-
associated non-EU countries where it was deemed that the framework conditions ensuring a 
level playing field  in  R&I  cooperation  were not in  place31. Entities  assessed as being  high-
risk suppliers of communication network equipment do not take part in actions linked to the 
development  of  communication  network  technologies,  in  line  with  the  June  2023 
Communication on the implementation of the 5G cybersecurity toolbox32.  

4.  POOLING GLOBAL EFFORTS TO TACKLE GLOBAL CHALLENGES TOGETHER 

With  respect  to  the  green  transition,  the  Commission  has  supported  the  development  of  an 
International  Platform  for  Ocean  Sustainability  (IPOS),  has  continued  to  support  the  All-
Atlantic  Ocean  Research  and  Innovation  Alliance  (AAORIA),  and  has  adopted  a  new  joint 
roadmap with the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO. It co-led the 
Clean Hydrogen Mission and the Urban Transitions Mission under Mission Innovation, and 
has supported green growth knowledge platforms, while continuing to engage internationally, 
including in the G20 Initiative on Bioeconomy.   

In  the  area  of  the  digital  transition,  the  Commission  has  advanced  digital  partnerships  with 
global  partners  in  areas  such  as  AI,  quantum  computing,  and  connectivity.  It  has  also 
supported  global  health  activities,  including  through  the  third  programme  of  the  European 
and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (Global Health EDCTP3). Finally, the 
Commission  is  promoting  innovation  activities  internationally  through  the  European 
Innovation Council (EIC) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as 
well as through knowledge valorisation. 

4.1.  Leading global efforts towards a just green transition 

28  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  non-EU  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 that are controlled directly or indirectly by a non-
eligible country or by an entity established in a non-eligible country. 
29 Including amendments approved in 2024. In addition, the European High Performance Computing (EuroHPC) 
Joint Undertaking made use of Article 22(5) in one action in its work programme 2023. 
30 Articles 39 and 40 of the Horizon Europe Regulation. 
31 Article 22(6) of the Horizon Europe Regulation allows, where appropriate and justified,  for the insertion of 
additional eligibility criteria to take account of specific policy  requirements or the nature and objectives of the 
action in question. 
32 C(2023) 4049 final. 

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The  R&I  investment  through  Horizon  Europe  helps  to  implement  the  Paris  Agreement,  the 
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and other international agreements. This 
investment  has  also  shaped  the  agendas  and  contributed  to  the  work  of  a  number  of 
organisations at the science-policy interface33. The importance of the EU’s involvement also 
needs  to  be  seen  in  the  light  of  fundamental  changes  in  the  approach  of  the  United  States 
(US)  regarding  climate  change,  environmental  issues,  and  the  role  of  science  in  policy-
making. 

The Joint communication on the EU’s International Ocean Governance Agenda34 stressed the 
need to acquire considerable ocean knowledge in order to support sustainable management. A 
2023  feasibility  study  found  that  knowledge  is  fragmented  and  often  inadequate  for  urgent 
decision-making35.  In  response,  the  Commission  is  following  the  work  to  establish  the 
International  Platform  for  Ocean  Sustainability  (IPOS)  as  a  new  catalytic  mechanism  to 
inform public and private decision-makers about sustainable ocean use and protection.  

The  Commission  led  the  implementation  of  the  2022  All-Atlantic  Ocean  Research  and 
Innovation  Alliance  (AAORIA)  declaration  to  support  ocean  research  cooperation  in  the 
Atlantic. Five new partners (the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Senegal and Ghana) have 
joined AAORIA, with its work focusing on increasing the resilience of coastal communities, 
coordinating ocean observation and improving modelling. 

At  the  2025  UN  Ocean  Conference,  the  Commission  announced  an  Ocean  Observation 
Initiative,  emphasising  the  importance  of  the  Global  Ocean  Observing  System  and  the 
Commission’s  commitment.  The  European  Commission  and 
the  Intergovernmental 
Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) have adopted a joint roadmap to 
strengthen  cooperation  on  the  UN  Decade  of  Ocean  Sciences  for  Sustainable  Development 
2021-2030, thereby aligning the EU’s and UNESCO’s efforts36.  

In 2023, the European Commission, in partnership with the African Union Commission, set 
up an Africa-Europe Ocean Strategic Group, run by the Africa-Europe Foundation with EU 
funding,  to  promote  scientific  cooperation  on  ocean-related  matters  between  the  two 
continents.  

Under  ‘Mission  Innovation  2.0’37,  the  European  Commission  promoted  the  acceleration  of 
the  clean  energy  transition  in  line  with  the  European  Green  Deal.  By  co-leading  its  ‘Clean 
Hydrogen’  Mission38,  the  Commission  is  spurring  on  international  R&I  cooperation  to 

33 Including the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), 
the  Intergovernmental  Science-Policy  Platform  on  Biodiversity  and  Ecosystem  Services  (IPBES),  the 
International Resource Panel (IRP), and other initiatives such as the Global Soil Partnership. 
34 JOIN(2022) 28 final. 
35  European  Commission:  Directorate-General  for  Maritime  Affairs  and  Fisheries, Seascape  assessment  – 
Feasibility  study  for  the  establishment  of  an  Intergovernmental  Panel  for  Ocean  Sustainability  (IPOS), 
Publications Office of the European Union, 2023, https://data.europa.eu/doi/10.2771/903406  
36 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/document/download/2e5f29fb-cb0c-4d0d-8840-
97ce0ee9730c_en?filename=ec_rtd_roadmap-cooperation-un-decade-ocean-science.pdf  
37 Mission Innovation is a key international forum that brings together countries responsible for 90% of public 
innovation funding for energy. 
38 https://mission-innovation.net/missions/hydrogen/  

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support  the  growth  of  a  global  clean  hydrogen  value  chain.  Since  2024,  the  Mission  has 
identified 101 EU and global hydrogen valley projects39 in 38 countries, with the objective of 
facilitating the delivery of large-scale integrated hydrogen valleys by 2030.  

Under  the  ‘Urban  Transitions’  Mission40  and  building  on  the  European  Mission  ‘Climate-
Neutral  and  Smart  Cities’,  the  Commission  is  co-leading  work  with  a  cohort  of  ambitious 
cities  worldwide  to  strengthen  their  net-zero  visions  and  speed  up  implementation.  Since 
2023, this cohort has grown to encompass 117 cities in 47 countries, with support provided 
under a City2City programme launched in November 2025.  

In  lin  with  the  global  gateway  strategy41,  the  EU  has  helped  partner  countries  access 
environmental  data  through  initiatives  aimed  at  strengthening  the  science-policy  interface, 
including  the  Biodiversity  and  Protected  Areas  Management  (BIOPAMA)  Programme  and 
the Green Growth Knowledge Partnership. The Commission has also set up an international 
knowledge management platform to share information about standards, guidance and funding 
opportunities under the New European Bauhaus initiative42. 

4.2. Promoting the digital transition 

In June 2025, the Commission adopted the International Digital Strategy for the EU, setting 
out  the  EU’s  vision  for  strengthening  its  international  digital  cooperation43.  This  strategy 
focuses on boosting European competitiveness, promoting a digital agenda for the security of 
Europe and its partners, and shaping global digital governance and standards.  

Digital Partnerships have been established with Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, and 
Canada44.  They  focus  on  collaborative  efforts  to  advance  key  technologies  such  as  AI, 
semiconductors,  high  performance  computing,  quantum  computing,  5G/6G  networks,  data 
governance, standardisation, and online platforms. 

Since May 2023, the EU-India Trade and Technology  Council has  laid the groundwork for 
cooperation  in  key  areas,  including  semiconductors,  digital  public  infrastructure,  digital 
skills,  AI,  high  performance  computing,  and  IT  and  telecoms  standardisation.  The  EU-US 
Trade  and  Technology  Council  has  made  significant  progress  since  its  inception  in  2021, 
yielding tangible results in AI, quantum technologies, standardisation, semiconductors, online 
platforms and 6G. 

The EU-Latin America and Caribbean  (LAC) Digital Alliance45 is a pioneering bi-regional 
cooperation  framework.  The  EU-LAC  project  on  a  Strategic  Partnership  for 
the 
Implementation of Digital Dialogues in R&I Cooperation (SPIDER) focuses on the adoption 
of an inclusive and human-centric approach to digital transformation in areas that can benefit 
from the high capacity interconnectivity provided by the Building the Europe Link to Latin 

39 https://h2v.eu/  
40 https://urbantransitionsmission.org/  
41 JOIN(2021) 30 final. 
42 https://knowledge-management.new-european-bauhaus.europa.eu/  
43 JOIN(2025) 140 final. 
44 https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/partnerships  
45 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_1598  

8 

 
 
 
America  (BELLA)  infrastructure46.  The  BELLA  cable  initiative  was  supported  by  the 
European  GÉANT  network47,  which  connects  research  and  education  communities  across 
more  than  110  countries  worldwide  through  its  partnerships,  using  its  own  secure  fibre 
networks to connect data providers in the global research system. In October 2025, the EU-
LAC  High  Performance  Computing  Network  was  launched.  By  connecting  EU  and  LAC 
supercomputers  through  BELLA,  scientists  from  both  regions  will  work  together  to  run 
simulations,  analyse  big  data  and  test  cutting-edge  processing  models  to  address  pressing 
global challenges, from climate modelling and drug discovery to artificial intelligence. 

Building  on  the  success  of  the  BELLA  cable  between  Europe  and  Latin  America,  the 
EurAfrica  Gateway  Cable  is  expected  to  provide  a  resilient  submarine  cable  system  along 
Africa’s Atlantic Ocean coast, further enhancing connectivity in the region. 

4.3. Strengthening cooperation on global health 

The EU global health strategy48 was endorsed by the European Council in January 202449. It 
identifies R&I as key enablers for better health, stronger health systems and universal health 
coverage, together with digitalisation and a skilled labour force.  

The  Commission  has  significantly  advanced  pandemic  preparedness  since  the  onset  of  the 
Covid-19  pandemic,  combining  immediate  response  capacity  with  long-term  preparedness 
investments. By investing EUR 1.28 billion in over 121 actions in research and development 
between  2022  and  2025,  the  Commission  has  accelerated  the  development  and  testing  of 
medical countermeasures, enhancing also the EU's resilience against future pandemics.  

The  Commission  has  stepped  up  its  coordination  of  global  health  research  funders,  for 
example  by  being  one  of  the  co-chairs  of  the  Global  Research  Collaboration  for  Infectious 
Disease Preparedness (GloPID-R)50 and supporting the Global Alliance for Chronic Diseases 
(GACD)51. The Commission has also supported preparations for new partnerships, including 
the European Rare Diseases Research Alliance (ERDERA)52.  

The  Global  Health  EDCTP3  Joint  Undertaking  is  the  third  iteration  of  the  European  and 
Developing  Countries  Clinical  Trials  Partnership53.  In  2024,  it  funded  74  global  health 
research  projects  with  a  total  budget  of  EUR  254  million.  In  response  to  the  2024  mpox 
outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the Global Health EDCTP3 Joint 
Undertaking activated its emergency funding mechanism and launched an emergency call, as 
a result of which 9 projects were funded for a total of EUR 12.1 million, covering phase 2, 3 

46 https://international-partnerships.ec.europa.eu/policies/programming/programmes/bella-building-europe-link-
latin-america_en  
47 https://network.geant.org/international_connectivity/  
48 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_7153 
49 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2024/01/29/eu-global-health-strategy-council-
approves-conclusions/ 
50 www.glopid-r.org  
51 www.gacd.org  
52 https://erdera.org/  
53  https://www.globalhealth-edctp3.eu/ 

9 

 
 
 
and  4  studies  on  pre-  and  post-exposure  prophylaxis  of  mpox  vaccines,  as  well  as 
surveillance strategies and epidemiological studies.  

The Commission also supports global health research through collaboration with the World 
Health  Organization  (WHO)  and  the  Global  Antibiotic  Research  and  Development 
Partnership  (GARDP),  providing  EUR  28  million  in  funding  (2022-2027)  to  speed  up  the 
development  of treatments  for drug-resistant bacterial  infections and  update lists of priority 
pathogens. EUR 1 million of that funding was assigned to support the WHO and GARDP’s 
joint SECURE initiative54, which aims to expand global access to essential antibiotics to treat 
drug-resistant  bacterial  infections.  The  Commission  has  supported  the  development  of 
tuberculosis  medicines  for  children  and  a  new  tuberculosis  vaccine  under  the  EU4Health 
work programme 2023.  

The  Commission  has  established  a  contribution  agreement  with  the  WHO  for  its  R&D 
Blueprint for Epidemics  with a budget of EUR 7.42 million, to support the development of 
safe and effective vaccines and treatments against filoviruses (including Ebola and Marburg), 
and interepidemic preparedness actions for future outbreaks. This work on preparedness has 
enabled  the  rapid  implementation  of  therapeutic  and  vaccines  clinical  trials,  notably  during 
the 2025 Ebola outbreak in Uganda. 

Finally,  the Commission  has  continued its  commitment to open sharing and access  through 
the Global Biodata Coalition, helping to ensure the sustainability of global biodata resources. 

4.4. Promoting innovation 

The EU is committed to positioning itself as an attractive destination for startups, investors, 
and  corporates  from  non-EU  countries  seeking  innovative  solutions  and  venture  client 
projects. This is one of the flagship areas of the New European Innovation Agenda and the 
Startups  and  Scaleups  Strategy55.  By  strengthening  international  partnerships  and  creating 
pathways for attracting international talent and investment, for example through the Choose 
Europe  for  Science  initiative56,  the  EU  aims  to  consolidate  its  role  as  a  leading  hub  for 
innovation and entrepreneurship, driving sustainable development  and competitiveness on a 
global scale.  

In  2025,  the  European  Innovation  Council  (EIC)  has  been  advised  by  the  EIC  Board  to 
develop  an  international  strategy  to  boost  its  global  impact  and  help  European  startups  and 
scaleups expand internationally. The advice is to focus on four core priorities: (1) fostering 
international  activities;  (2)  engaging  international  investors  and  corporates;  (3)  establishing 
thought leadership; and (4) attracting international talent. The key objectives are to help EIC 
beneficiaries to become global while maintaining their headquarters in Europe; to attract deep 
tech innovators to Europe, and to cooperate with international investors interested in the EIC 
companies. 

54 https://gardp.org/secure/  
55 SWD(2025) 138 final. 
56 https://commission.europa.eu/topics/research-and-innovation/choose-europe_en  

10 

 
 
 
In  March  2024,  the  Commission  adopted  two  recommendations  in  support  of  the  Council 
recommendation  on  guiding  principles  for  knowledge  valorisation57,  namely  the  Codes  of 
Practice  on  industry-academia  co-creation58  and  on  citizen  engagement59.  More  than  150 
strategies and practices developed in the EU and beyond can be found in the EU Knowledge 
Valorisation Platform’s repository, which is also relevant for international partners60. 

5.  MODULATING COOPERATION WITH PRIORITY COUNTRIES AND REGIONS 

Geopolitical developments in recent years have affected the EU’s R&I cooperation with other 
countries.  In  the  EU  neighbourhood,  dynamics  have  been  driven  by  the  association  of  the 
United  Kingdom  and  Switzerland  as  well  as  candidate  countries  to  Horizon  Europe. 
Participation  in  Horizon  Europe  through  association  has  also  bolstered  the  EU’s  R&I 
relations with major industrial economies abroad. Finally, there has been a renewed focus on 
Africa,  Latin  America  and  the  Caribbean  as  well  as  the  Association  of  Southeast  Asian 
Nations  (ASEAN),  with  major  regional  initiatives  having  been  developed.  In  the  bilateral 
context, specific areas of interest for the EU and the partner countries are being addressed, for 
example, by engaging constructively with China. 

5.1. Integrating cooperation within the EU’s neighbourhood 

The United Kingdom (UK) became an Associated Country to Horizon Europe on 1 January 
2024, sending a strong message of continued shared interests with the EU. In 2024, the UK 
performed  particularly  well  in  the  European  Research  Council  (ERC)  calls,  being  the  top 
beneficiary  of  the  proof  of  concept  grants  announced  in  July  2024,  one  of  the  top 
beneficiaries  of  the  starting  grants  announced  in  September  2024,  and  experiencing  a  56% 
increase in the consolidator grants announced in  December 2024, compared to the previous 
year. The UK was also the top beneficiary of MSCA grants in 2024. 

The  participation  of  Switzerland,  a  longstanding  R&I  partner  of  the  EU  and  an  active 
participant  in  the  past  during  its  association  to  previous  R&I  framework  programmes, 
dropped  during  the  first  years  of  Horizon  Europe  owing  to  non-association.  With  its 
association  effective  as  of  1  January  2025,  Swiss  researchers  and  entities  are  again  able  to 
participate in programme calls. 

The R&I systems of the European Free Trade Area (EFTA) countries Norway and Iceland are 
deeply  intertwined  with  those  of  the  EU,  as  are  the  industrial  value  chains  and  academic 
networks. Norway in particular, makes a significant contribution to the excellence of the R&I 
framework programmes.  

57 Council recommendation (EU) 2022/2415. 
58 Commission recommendation (EU) 2024/774. 
59  Commission  recommendation  (EU)  2024/736  –  the  Codes  of  Practice  adopted  in  2024  follow  on  from  the 
initiative of the Codes of Practice adopted in 2023 on intellectual asset management and on standardisation. 
60 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/research-area/industrial-research-and-innovation/eu-valorisation-
policy/knowledge-valorisation-platform_en  

11 

 
 
 
 
 
The  participation  of  partners  from  the  Western  Balkans  in  the  EU  R&I  framework 
programmes has increased significantly and reached its highest level in Horizon Europe. R&I 
efforts are being stepped up particularly through the Western Balkans Innovation Agenda61, 
the  support  to  technology-oriented  research  infrastructures  and  the  region’s  further 
integration into the European Research Area.  

In the Eastern Partnership countries62, a regular monitoring of the implementation of the five 
R&I  priorities  defined  in  the  2021  Staff  Working  Document63  was  implemented  with  EU 
support.  The  Horizon  Policy  Support  Facility  gave  the  Moldovan64  and  Ukrainian65 
authorities expert support for designing R&I policy reforms. Despite the difficult geopolitical 
and economic situation in the region, all five countries managed to implement governmental 
reforms,  adopt  and  launch  the  implementation  of  national  science  strategies,  and  increase 
their participation in Horizon Europe compared with Horizon 2020.  

The  Commission  has  focused  on  setting  up  dedicated  support  measures  for  Ukraine66  and 
facilitated Ukraine’s participation in Horizon Europe and the Euratom Research and Training 
Programme  calls.  For  instance,  a  dedicated  fellowship  scheme,  MSCA4Ukraine,  supports 
displaced researchers from Ukraine, enabling them to continue their research activities in the 
EU. In line with the 2024 G7 Science and Technology Ministers’  communiqué, the EU has 
set  up  an  International  Coalition  for  Research  Science  and  Innovation  in  Ukraine,  together 
with  Ukraine,  the  Italian  G7  presidency  and  UNESCO,  to  realise  the  potential  of  R&I  in 
Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction. The same goal, applied to climate-oriented recovery 
in  urban  environments,  is  pursued  by  the  new  SUN4Ukraine67  initiative  of  the  European 
Mission ‘Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities’. 

The Union for the Mediterranean (UfM) and the EU developed and adopted R&I roadmaps 
on  health,  climate  change  and  renewable  energy  at  ministerial  level  in  2022,  setting  out 
priorities  for  collaboration  and  economic  development.  The  Mediterranean  Initiative, 
launched  in  the  Horizon  Europe  work  programme  2023-2024  and  continued  in  2025, 
contributes to the implementation of these roadmaps and has increased collaborative research 
between the EU and the Mediterranean by  around 60%68. The Partnership for Research and 
Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)69 also contributes to these efforts in the areas 
of  agriculture  and  water,  having  been  extended  in  April  2024  for  three  more  years  (2025-
2027). As the EU’s new flagship initiative to strengthen cooperation with southern partners, 

61 https://westernbalkans-infohub.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/a-western-balkans-agenda-on-innovation-
research-education-KI0221615ENN-1.pdf  
62 Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine. 
63 SWD(2021) 186 final. 
64 https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/statistics/policy-support-facility/psf-country/support-
moldova-reforms-public-rd-sector  
65 https://projects.research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/en/statistics/policy-support-facility/psf-country/support-
ukraine-research-infrastructures-policies  
66  ERA4Ukraine  (https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/ukraine)  gives  an  overview  of  all  EU  and  national  actions, 
including  MSCA4Ukraine,  ERC  job  offers,  and  the  JRC-EUI  (European  University  Institute)  fellowship 
scheme. 
67 https://www.sun4ukraine.eu/  
68 Horizon Europe work programme 2023-2024: 37 topics with a total budget of EUR 320 million. 
69 https://prima-med.org/  

12 

 
 
 
the  Pact  for  the  Mediterranean  adopted  in  October  202570  is  an  opportunity  to  reframe 
scientific collaboration by establishing joint Mediterranean R&I hubs, promoting the mobility 
of researchers, supporting the creation of a Science Diplomacy Centre, and advancing blue-
economy  actions.  This  followed  the  adoption  of  the  Joint  communication  on  the  European 
Union's strategic approach to the Black Sea region in May 202571. 

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

economies 

Until January 2025, R&I relations with the United States evolved positively with increasing 
cooperation  in  a  variety  of  areas,  the  successful  renewal  of  the  EU-US  Science  and 
Technology  Agreement,  the  signing  of  a  Joint  Statement  setting  a  comprehensive  R&I 
cooperation agenda, and strong participation of US entities in Horizon Europe. The change in 
the science policy stance of the new US administration, deprioritising research expenditure in 
top EU priority areas such as climate, environment, clean energy, or infectious diseases, and 
disengaging  from  several  multilateral  R&I  initiatives,  has  been  putting  transatlantic  R&I 
dialogue and cooperation under strain. To protect EU interests, actions have been developed 
under  Horizon  Europe  to  strengthen  EU  support  for   multilateral  cooperation  platforms 
notably in the areas of ocean observation, climate and data sovereignty. On data sets, actions 
include i) the development of data sovereignty frameworks, ii) the implementation of robust 
risk  management  for  access  to  critical  data,  and  iii)  the  leveraging  of  national  funding  to 
support  access  to  cost-intensive  digital  services.  Since  the  US  remains  a  natural  EU  R&I 
partner, the EU is striving to keep channels of communication with R&I federal interlocutors 
in  the  US  open,  with  a  view  to  reassessing  shared  priorities  and  relaunching  vibrant 
cooperation. 

Regarding China, there is still a lack of progress in the discussions on the joint roadmap for 
the  future  of  EU-China  cooperation  in  science,  technology  and  innovation,  specifically  on 
innovation-related framework conditions72, while considerable progress has been made on the 
framework conditions for research cooperation73. EU-China R&I cooperation has focused on 
two research flagship initiatives on food, agriculture and biosolutions (FAB) and on climate 
change and  biodiversity (CCB),  where collaboration  is  of mutual  benefit74. However, given 
the above and the significant concerns about the use of intellectual property generated under 
Horizon Europe, Chinese entities are no longer able to participate in any of the programme’s 
innovation activities75. The Commission has strengthened coordination efforts with Member 
States to align approaches through the EU R&I Knowledge Network on China (EU-KNOC) 

70 JOIN(2025) 26 final. 
71 JOIN(2025) 135 final. 
72 These include intellectual property rights, pre-normative research, conformity assessment and standardisation, 
access to government procurements, and fair and transparent regulatory frameworks. 
73 These include open science, research ethics and integrity, the mobility of researchers, and gender equality in 
R&I. 
74  The  Horizon  Europe  work  programme  2023-2024  included  seven  actions  with  a  total  budget  of  EUR  86 
million co-funded by the EU and China. 
75 Innovation activities are actions with a high level of technological development and  greater closeness to the 
market. 

13 

 
 
 
and invested over EUR 13 million in expanding knowledge of contemporary China in areas 
such as politics, society, economics and trade, science and technology, and climate.  

Given its very strong capacity in  science, technology  and innovation,  the association  of the 
Republic of Korea to Horizon Europe in 2025 unlocked a plethora of possibilities for broader 
and  more  systematic  EU-Korea  R&I  cooperation  in  areas  such  as  digital  technologies, 
nanotechnologies  or  satellite  navigation,  as  well  as  clean  energy,  climate,  ocean  and 
environmental research, and health. The same is expected with regard to Japan following the 
successful  conclusion  of  the  negotiations  on  its  participation  in  Union  programmes  and 
association  to  Horizon  Europe,  in  addition  to  ongoing  cooperation  on  advanced  materials. 
The association of New Zealand to Horizon Europe, in turn, resulted in the number of signed 
grants almost tripling from 2022 to 2024.  

On 3 July 2024, the agreement associating Canada to Pillar II of Horizon Europe was signed, 
giving Canadian researchers and organisations the opportunity to participate in this part of the 
programme on equal terms with their EU counterparts. This has already resulted in more than 
100  Canadian  participations  in  Horizon  Europe  projects.  This  figure  is  expected  to  rise 
considerably,  since many project  proposals  with  Canadian participation  are  being evaluated 
or are in the grant agreement preparation phase.  

Cooperation  with  India  has  gained  momentum  since  the  launch  of  the  EU-India  Trade  and 
Technology  Council  (TTC)76,  focused  on  digital,  green  and  clean  energy  technologies.  The 
second TTC ministerial meeting in New Delhi in February 2025 agreed on further technology 
cooperation with joint financial investment in collaborative research on marine pollution, the 
transformation  of  waste  into  renewable  hydrogen  and  battery  recycling  technologies  for 
electric  vehicles.  Greater  emphasis  will  also  be  put  on  enabling  Indian  and  EU  startups  to 
collaborate.  The  Joint  Communication  on  a  New  Strategic  EU-India  Agenda  identifies 
technology and innovation as a central pillar of future EU-India cooperation77. The bilateral 
EU-India Scientific and Technological Cooperation Agreement was also renewed until 2030. 

Relations with Brazil are particularly strong in the area of green transition technologies such 
as  integrated  biorefineries  and  solar  energy  technologies,  as  well  as  in  biodiversity,  marine 
research, ecosystem/nature-based approaches to sustainable cities, sustainability, and health. 
The Commission contributed to the agenda for Brazil’s G20 Presidency, helping to ensure the 
adoption  of  the  G20  Strategy  to  Promote  Open  Innovation  Cooperation,  the  G20 
Recommendations on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility in Science, Technology 
and Innovation, and the 10 Leading Principles of the Global Initiative on Bioeconomy. 

The  strengthened  relationship  between  the  EU  and  South  Africa  is  reflected  in  the  2025 
Summit outcome and the launch of the first Clean Trade and Investment Partnership as well 
as South Africa’s outstanding participation in Horizon Europe, being the first among African 
countries  both  in  terms  of  the  volume  of  grants  and  the  number  of  projects.  South  Africa 
plays  a  leading  role  in  the  implementation  of  the  AU-EU  Innovation  Agenda  through  co-
funding of several R&I cooperation initiatives such as the Long-Term Joint AU-EU Research 

76 https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_23_596   
77 JOIN(2025) 50 final. 

14 

 
 
 
and Innovation Partnership on Sustainable Energy (LEAP-SE). The EU worked very closely 
with  the South  African  Presidency of the  G20 in  2025,  supporting  the adoption of the G20 
Recommendations for Science Engagement. 

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 and adopting the AU-EU Innovation Agenda together with the African 
Union Commission and Member States in 2023. The AU-EU Innovation Agenda establishes 
a  new  framework  for  the  uptake  of  research  results  focused  on  public  health  and  the  green 
and digital transition to support jobs and growth by sharing technology and expertise78. The 
Africa  initiatives  in  Horizon  Europe  have  boosted  collaboration  between  researchers  from 
both  regions  by  an  annual  average  of  40%79.  The  AU-EU  R&I  Partnership  on  Food  and 
Nutrition Security and Sustainable Agriculture brings together over 70 research funders from 
Africa  and  Europe.  Under  the  Global  Gateway  Africa-Europe  investment  package,  the 
‘Africa-EU  Space  Partnership  Programme’  is  backed  by  an  EUR  100  million  investment, 
focusing  on  developing  space-based  services  promoting  in  particular  the  uptake  of 
Copernicus  to  improve  early  warning  systems  for  hazardous  weather  and  climate  change 
knowledge,  strengthening  institutional  collaboration  between  the  EU  and  Africa,  and 
supporting  the  capabilities  of  the  space  industry.  The  ‘Regional  Centres  of  Excellence 
(RCoEs)  for  the  Green  Transition  Programme’  is  an  EUR  80  million  programme  aimed  at 
supporting knowledge generation and management through better data production, access and 
sharing.  Building  on  the  pilot  phase  of  the  African  Research  Initiative  for  Scientific 
Excellence (ARISE) programme implemented by the African Academy of Sciences, similar 
support  of  EUR  25  million  has  been  announced  for  a  second  phase,  triggering  additional 
pledges from AU Member States. Celebrating the 15th anniversary of the AU-EU High-Level 
Policy Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation, a series of events was organised in 
October  2025,  including  a  workshop  on  AI  in  science  in  Africa-Europe  collaborations,  the 
AU-EU Dialogue on Science Diplomacy, an innovation fair arranged in partnership with the 
Union for the Mediterranean, and the AU-EU R&I Senior Officials Meeting.  

Cooperation  with  the  Community  of  Latin  American  and  Caribbean  States  (CELAC) 
has gained renewed momentum with the first EU-CELAC ministerial meeting on R&I held in 
Brussels  in  September  2025.  At  this  meeting,  the  EU  and  CELAC  ministers  endorsed  a 
ministerial declaration and a New Agenda for EU-CELAC Cooperation in R&I, establishing 
three working groups in the areas of i) health, ii) climate change, environmental sustainability 
and  energy  transition,  and  iii)  AI  in  science,  complementing  the  existing  Research 
Infrastructure  Working  Group.  Each  group  will  develop  operational  roadmaps  that  define 
priorities,  activities,  and  deliverables  for  the  bi-regional  cooperation  in  the  priority  area  in 
question.  The  EU-LAC  Innovation  Cooperation  Initiative  was  launched  in  October  2023  to 
create  and  operationalise  a  network  of  existing  startup  incubators  and  accelerators,  and  to 

78 https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2023-07/ec_rtd_au-eu-innovation-agenda-final-
version.pdf  
79 Horizon Europe work programme 2023-2024: 30 topics with a total budget of EUR 300 million. 

15 

 
 
 
structure  the  innovation  presence  of  EU  Member  States  in  the  LAC  region.  A  Global 
Gateway  Investment  Agenda  (GGIA)  action  on  sargassum  was  launched  in  the  Caribbean 
region, giving EU development cooperation an R&I dimension. 

The EU’s competitiveness and security is closely interlinked to the Association of Southeast 
Asian Nations (ASEAN), requiring the EU to strengthen its R&I cooperation with the region. 
Cooperation  focuses  on  green  technologies,  digital  transformation,  healthcare  innovations, 
and  sharing  experience  of  regional  integration  (research  infrastructures,  talent  mobility, 
technology  transfer).  The  ASEAN-EU  Dialogue  on  Science,  Technology  and  Innovation 
identified  further  areas  of  collaboration:  innovation/startups,  science  diplomacy  and  gender 
equality in R&I.  

6.  CONCLUSIONS 

Since the adoption in 2021 of the Global Approach to R&I, there have been major unforeseen 
external developments, such as the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the escalating 
conflict  in  the  Middle  East,  fundamental  changes  in  US  policies  regarding  science,  climate 
change,  environment  or  health,  and  seismic  shifts  in  the  application  of  groundbreaking 
technologies such as AI. These developments profoundly affect the global R&I landscape and 
require  the  EU  to  become  much  more  assertive  in  defending  its  political  and  economic 
interests  and  promoting  its  values  globally.  Being  a  beacon  for  academic  freedom  and 
freedom of scientific research and gender equality is central to the EU’s ambition to attract 
the best scientific talent, supported by the Choose Europe for Science initiative. 

The  EU  has  responded  to  these  challenges,  for  example  by  adopting  the  Council 
recommendation  on  enhancing  research  security,  developing  a  European  framework  for 
science  diplomacy,  establishing  the  Multilateral  Dialogue  on  Principles  and  Values  in 
International  R&I  Cooperation,  and  associating  key  global  partners  to  the  Horizon  Europe 
programme, while at the same time creating a level playing field and reciprocity, in particular 
with  China.  Staying  committed  to  the  European  Green  Deal,  EU  priorities  have  shifted 
towards the clean transition and strengthening the EU competitiveness, with a focus also on 
defence and dual use. 

Putting  R&I  at  the  heart  of  EU  competitiveness  means  also  putting  it  at  the  heart  of  EU 
external action. The EU needs to show exemplary leadership in using R&I for the pursuit of 
peace  and  multilateralism  and  for  reaching  the  UN  2030  Sustainable  Development  Goals, 
including  by  fighting  against  climate  change  and  biodiversity  loss.  In  this  new  context,  the 
principles  of  openess  and  security  set  out  in  the  Global  Approach  to  R&I  remain  valid.  In 
some areas further developments and adjustments are needed. These include areas related to 
creating  a  level  playing  field  and  reciprocity  in  international  R&I  cooperation,  taking  into 
account thematic priorities such as competitiveness and a stronger emphasis on startups and 
scaleups  as  well  as  shifting  geographic  priorities.  This  is  crucial  for  ensuring  that  the  EU 
defends its interests and stays at the forefront of R&I, while being a reliable partner the rest 
of the world can count on. 

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