Debate: Establishing Horizon Europe – laying down its rules for participation and dissemination - Specific Programme implementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - European Institute of Innovation and Technology - Strategic Innovation Agenda of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology
Date: MONDAY, 26 APRIL 2021
Speaker: Lina Gálvez Muñoz
Country: France
Language: EN

Horizon Europe must be a clear, simple and fast—paced programme ambitious enough to meet the challenges facing the Union. The COVID—19 pandemic has confirmed the need to invest more in research and innovation. Even before this pandemic the European Parliament has always insisted on ambitious investments in R&I. Today I can proudly say that through persistence we have ensured budgetary stability and predictability in order to have the Horizon Europe programme that will deliver on future challenges. With a budget of EUR 19.5 billion, we have delivered the most powerful research and innovation programme in the world, even if the amount is still below the EUR 120 billion the European Parliament asked for. Horizon Europe will help the EU adapt to the future by supporting the health system to prepare for future pandemics, its industry to decarbonize and its businesses to innovate, and it will support European researchers enhancing their talents and progress in digital and industrial technologies. According to the Commission each euro invested in the programme can potentially generate up to EUR 11 in GDP over 25 years. Money channelled through Horizon 2020 helped finding a vaccine against COVID—19, to support research and innovation projects, to tackle many aspects of the pandemic. Europe will never be economically wealthy nor safe without substantial financing for its basic and applied research, and without adequate financing and coordination on the health dimension. My calling upon the Member States is to increase to 3% their investment in research and innovation, not despite but in particular because of the economic crisis. Horizon Europe is open to the world, and I see research as a bridge between the Union and our international partners. However, we need to ensure reciprocity and open doors on both sides of the bridge in order to have people crossing in trust, as researchers are at the core of finding solutions for future challenges.  The significant reduction of the research and innovation gap at Union level, by increasing the geographical balance in Horizon Europe, will maximise the Union’s potential for research and innovation. I emphasise that the principle of excellence remains the basic principles in the selection of all projects, but excellence must be supported and promoted throughout the Union. A key element of the new programme is that at least 35% of the total budget will be allocated to support the European Union’s climate objectives. The instrument for small and medium—sized enterprises is a strength, and new instruments, such as European Innovation Council emissions, will increase the competitiveness of the European Union and will produce tangible results for all European citizens.  Moreover, efforts should be undertaken to achieve better synergies between the activities of different European national instruments for R&D and innovation, which may provide complementary sources of funding. I would like to encourage Member States to use the seal of excellence opportunity within the recovery and resilience plans. In his final remarks, the rapporteur Dan Nica would like to underline the excellent cooperation with the Commission and the main Presidencies under which the programme was negotiated – namely the Romanian and German Presidencies. Now I would like to refer to file on the European Institute of Innovation and Technology – and I will switch to Spanish – for which I had the honour of being the shadow rapporteur, as for both files. Me gustaría, por tanto, agradecer el trabajo y la excelente colaboración con las ponentes, Marisa Matias y Maria da Graça Carvalho, y dar las gracias también a nuestros equipos y al personal del Parlamento, que han realizado una excelente tarea en condiciones extrañas y, pese a ello, se ha llegado a un acuerdo muy positivo. Me gustaría agradecer también a la Comisión y al Consejo su flexibilidad.  El Instituto Europeo de Innovación y Tecnología es una pieza que la Unión Europea debe visibilizar y poner en valor, ya que tiene el potencial de contribuir a los desafíos sociales más urgentes, como la transición energética, la digitalización, el cambio hacia un modelo productivo sostenible o los retos sanitarios.  Hemos trabajado muy duramente para mejorar la diversidad geográfica, incrementar la cooperación regional y la participación de diferentes países y territorios. También insistimos en seguir reforzando la igualdad de oportunidades, asegurando el fortalecimiento de la dimensión de género, que el debate que acabamos de tener nos ha mostrado que todavía necesita mucho camino.  Con este Instituto y este expediente queremos cerrar la brecha entre las ideas y la creación de empresas para que los centros de investigación, universidades y empresas se beneficien del potencial de la innovación en Europa. Debemos apoyar este acuerdo, que ayudará a reforzar lo que conocemos como «el triángulo del conocimiento», trabajando conjuntamente hacia un horizonte que ponga a las personas y su bienestar en el centro.