This position paper is based on a thorough analysis of recent EU reports and policy trends, including the proposals by Enrico Letta6 , Mario Draghi7 , or Manuel Heitor8 . Catalonia fully recognises the importance of EU-wide coordination, but also stresses the need to embed regional voices and capacities into the design and implementation of FP10.

Articulated in 18 points, Catalonia’s key recommendations for the next Framework Programme can be summarized as follows:

• Maintain FP10 as an autonomous and well-funded programme, clearly distinct from broader industrial or competitiveness funds.
• Excellence must remain the cornerstone, while enabling broader participation through strategic use of Cohesion Policy, simplification, and capacity-building.
• Secure an ambitious and protected budget, with a minimum allocation of €200 billion and a strong commitment to reaching 3% of EU GDP in R&I investment (public and private).
• Ensure balanced opportunities across the full R&I spectrum, supporting low to high Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) and integrating Societal Readiness Levels (SRLs) to deliver both economic and societal impact.
• Strengthen coordination and synergies between FP10 and other EU, national, and regional instruments, improving procedural alignment and embedding the regional dimension into governance and implementation.
• Boost the participation of newcomers, SMEs, and less represented regions, through dedicated calls, tailored support tools, and improved funding conditions.
• Promote open science, data interoperability, and cross-sectoral collaboration as key enablers of responsible innovation, knowledge circulation, and transparency.
• Reassess the role and scope of Missions and Partnerships to improve focus, effectiveness, and alignment with EU strategic goals and regional strengths.
• Preserve the current 3+1 pillar structure, while enhancing internal coherence, cross-pillar synergies, and flexible pathways from fundamental research to innovation uptake.
• Reinforce the international dimension of FP10, maintaining openness to global collaboration while applying a balanced, value-driven approach to partnerships with third countries.
• Recognise and support research management and innovation professionals as essential actors in the success and impact of EU-funded projects.
• Promote real simplification and user-friendliness across all stages of the project lifecycle, ensuring that administrative burdens do not undermine participation or scientific ambition.