COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Horizon Europe: Research and Innovation at the heart of competitiveness

EUROPEAN COMMISSION Brussels, 30.4.2025 COM(2025) 189 final COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Horizon Europe: Research and Innovation at the heart of competitiveness {SWD(2025) 110 final} EN EN 1. Introduction: research and innovation at the heart of competitiveness Research and innovation (R&I) is a key driver of competitiveness. R&I spurs productivity increases, economic growth and, ultimately, enhances well-being, as the Draghi 1 and Letta2 reports recently highlighted. Now more than ever, R&I will shape Europe’s future. Maintaining Europe’s capacity to come up with new ideas, bold research and innovations, and translating them into products and services will boost Europe’s competitiveness. President von der Leyen has made clear that “Europe’s competitiveness – and its position in the race to a clean and digital economy – will depend on starting a new age of invention and ingenuity. This requires putting research and innovation, science and technology, at the centre of our economy”3. This is why the EU has invested in research and innovation for decades and aims to scale up and speed up R&I. Since 1984, the EU’s Framework Programmes for R&I have financed groundbreaking ideas and disruptive innovations designed to tackle long-term priorities while boosting the competitiveness and resilience of our industry. The EU Framework Programmes also contribute to advancements in areas such as health,...