ERRIN's input on the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034 proposals
In November, ERRIN submitted three responses to the European Commission as part of the wider consultation process for the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034 proposals:
• the implementation of EU funding in partnership with Member States and regions / National and Regional Partnership Plans (NRPPs),
• the future Horizon Europe, and
• the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).
Taken together, these instruments will shape the EU’s research and innovation funding landscape post-2027.
These three papers are based on findings, dedicated exchanges and co-creative bottom-up work on the topic with ERRIN members under ERRIN’s Strategic Cluster, with recommendations on how the MFF can be further improved to create the right conditions for R&I to thrive post-2027.
ERRIN’s overarching message across the three consultations is clear: the next MFF must support a coherent, place-based and innovation-driven framework where FP10, the ECF and the NRPPs work together to strengthen territorial innovation ecosystems and support societal transformation. The success of the programmes will depend on meaningful involvement of regional and local authorities and support to strong and well-connected innovation ecosystems, ensuring that all territories and actors can fully benefit from the new investment framework and contribute to Europe's competitiveness and cohesion goals on the ground.
ERRIN welcomes the Commission's ambition to create a more integrated investment landscape in the next MFF. However, the links between FP10, the ECF and the NRPPs must be more explicit, ensuring that Europe’s funding instruments work as a coherent pathway from research to innovation, deployment and territorial impact. ERRIN calls for clear guidance, shared implementation modalities and co-created mechanisms with EU, national and regional actors to make synergies truly operational.
EU funding with Member States and Regions (NRPPs)
In its response on EU funding with Member States and Regions, ERRIN calls for NRPPs to embed a genuinely place-based approach, underpinned by strong multi-level governance, an effective partnership principle and a clear innovation dimension. Only by tailoring measures to territorial realities and harnessing comparative advantages can EU funds unlock the full innovation potential of Europe and deliver meaningful impact on the ground. A more centralised approach risks limiting Europe’s ability to capitalise on its territorial innovation ecosystems and their capacity to boost competitiveness through cross-border collaboration.
Key recommendations for the NRPPs
- Ensure a genuinely place-based Cohesion Policy, underpinned by well-functioning multi-level governance and a strong partnership principle. Clear frameworks for cooperation between levels of government and for involving key regional stakeholders throughout the process are needed, with mandated territorial chapters and dedicated budget for regions and cities.
- Strengthen the innovation dimension of the NRPP Regulation. S3 has the potential to bring regional policy, research and innovation policy and industrial policy together and should be used as a key mechanism for ensuring that innovation continues to drive territorial development. Member States should be incentivised to use S3 as the operational strategy for the R&I chapters of their NRPPs, involving regional stakeholders directly in setting the milestones and targets.
- Embed Interregional collaboration into the NRPPs regulation. Much stronger interregional collaboration is needed to create a less fragmented EU innovation ecosystem and to boost competitiveness. S3 can give directionality to interregional collaboration and ensure the engagement of the key stakeholders of the regional ecosystem in collaboration.
Read ERRIN’s full NRPP paper here. Complementing this, ERRIN recently published a reflection paper on Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3), capturing insights from our members on how S3 can continue to drive innovation-led regional development and European competitiveness post-2027.
EU research, innovation and competitiveness funding
ERRIN welcomes the proposal to maintain Horizon Europe as a strong, standalone programme and supports the ECF’s ambition to close Europe’s innovation gap and connect investments across the full innovation chain.
However, current MFF debates often focus too narrowly on company-level performance, overlooking the societal dimension of competitiveness.
ERRIN calls for a broader approach – one that values strong and well-connected territorial innovation ecosystems where local stakeholders co-create solutions to societal challenges and drive sustainable growth. Regional and local authorities must be recognised for the key role they play in facilitating collaboration within and between these ecosystems and driving innovation.
Across both papers, our core messages are clear:
- Boost support for territorial R&I ecosystems. A dedicated long-term investment to connect territorial R&I ecosystems across Europe should be ensured. Together, Horizon Europe and the ECF can form a comprehensive framework for ecosystem collaboration, tightly coupling EU R&I funding with support to market uptake of innovations, deployment of new solutions and wide implementation of research results.
- Maintain strong support for societal transformation. Societal transformation should be strongly supported and seen as an integral part of competitiveness. The funds must provide enough space and flexibility to tackle societal challenges and support policy innovation and experimentation.
- Foster a more inclusive R&I ecosystem. Ensuring further support collaboration between less and more innovative ecosystems to tackle fragmentation and tap into capacities across territorial innovation ecosystems.
- Guarantee access for regions, cities and other regional innovation stakeholders. Both funds must be open to different types of actors in the territorial R&I ecosystems. This would strengthen collaboration along the innovation chain and better bridge the gap between technology, application and societal impact.
- Sustain and strengthen EU Missions beyond 2030. Horizon Europe should support R&I, while ECF focuses on deployment and scale-up. This would maximise local impact, allowing regions and cities to lead systemic change in areas such as climate neutrality, adaptation, soil health, ocean and water restoration and cancer.
Read ERRIN's Horizon Europe paper here and European Competitiveness Fund paper here.
Next steps
ERRIN wishes to thank all members who contributed to the drafting of the three papers. The insights and expertise from across the network provide a strong foundation for ERRIN’s continued engagement with the European Institutions as the negotiation process on the next MFF intensifies.
Members are invited to share these papers and to help amplify these messages among national and European policymakers. By working together, we can ensure a strong and influential voice in the debate on the next MFF.