In their position paper on FP9 the EIROforum organisations:

• Call for a new Framework Programme that recognises the critical role of fundamental research to society and advocates a clear vision for science, with substantial funding.
• Call for increased funding for Research Infrastructures, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and European Research Council grants.
• Support the development of the European Open Science Cloud and offer their expertise for its implementation.
• Welcome a European Innovation Council as a spearhead in fostering a strong innovation ecosystem in Europe.
• Recommend the introduction of new robustly-funded instruments for support to novel technology development and innovation at European Research Infrastructures.
• Underline that Research Infrastructures are by their very nature established to achieve extraordinarily challenging scientific goals, and should thus play a key role in the ‘missions’ proposed for FP9 by the Pascal Lamy expert group.

“Fundamental research drives knowledge creation, expands the frontiers of science and technology, and leads to innovation as well as societal applications,” says EIROforum Chair and EMBL Director-General Iain Mattaj. “The next EU Framework Programme can help secure Europe’s future, by providing solid support for fundamental research.”

The position paper was published following a meeting of EIROforum’s Directors-General assembly that took place 20 and 21 November at EMBL in Heidelberg.

Read the full paper:

 EIROforum Position Paper on the Next Framework Programme “FP9”