Get involved in ERRIN's work shaping the EU’s long-term budget post-2027
In the run-up to the European Commission’s proposal for the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028–2034, ERRIN has been actively engaged in shaping the debate – developing comprehensive input papers, responding to consultations, organising events and facilitating policy dialogues between members and EU policymakers.
On 16 July, the Commission presented the long-anticipated proposal. As expected, the MFF would be broadly redesigned in its structure. While the Commission's proposal provides a first framework, many details remain unclear, and the shape of the next MFF will continue to evolve in the upcoming EU negotiation process. Read more about ERRIN's initial reflection on the proposal here.
On 18 July, the Commission launched an overall public consultation on the proposed regulations – an important opportunity for ERRIN to further influence the MFF post-2027. On 2 September, ERRIN members gathered to exchange initial reflections on the proposal and to plan joint advocacy activities. Building on these discussions, the conversation will continue across ERRIN’s Working Groups this autumn, with a series of meetings diving deeper into Framework Programme 10 (FP10) and the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF) as well as the innovation dimension of cohesion policy. These meetings will serve as occasions to coordinate ERRIN's responses to the consultations related to these issues. We encourage ERRIN members to join the upcoming meetings and contribute your expertise and perspectives to shape ERRIN’s consultation responses.
Smart Specialisation WG meeting: Regional innovation and competitiveness in the next MFF post-2027 │25 September
This ERRIN Smart Specialisation Working Group meeting will offer an opportunity to discuss the National and Regional Partnership (NRP) Plans and the role of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) in the next MFF. The event will also explore the role of Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) as the model for addressing competitiveness across future funding programmes. Members will discuss the ERRIN paper on the future of S3 and shape ERRIN's contribution to the Commission’s consultation on EU’s next long-term budget (MFF) – implementing EU funding with Member States and regions with the deadline on 3 November.
Learn more and register here.
Policy WG internal meeting: The future Horizon Europe │17 October
While the proposal for the FP10 looks rather positive, more work must be done to ensure robust support for connecting and strengthening territorial R&I ecosystems across the EU in the next budget. This internal Policy WG meeting will serve as an opportunity to exchange between members and ERRIN Secretariat specifically on the future Horizon Europe (FP10). These discussions will provide a basis for ERRIN's contribution to the Commission’s consultation on EU's next long-term budget (MFF) - EU funding for competitiveness with the deadline on 7 and 12 November.
Learn more and register here.
Low Carbon Cluster meeting: Competitiveness Fund and key drivers for Low carbon area │November
Planned for early November, this Low Carbon Cluster meeting will address the Low Carbon dimension of the ECF and the discussions will further contribute to ERRIN’s response to the consultation on EU funding for competitiveness. More details will follow shortly.
Find more details on ERRIN’s policy priorities and activities planned for 2025 in the updated ERRIN Strategic Cluster Annual Plan 2025.
European Committee of the Regions upcoming Opinion on the Next MFF
On September 2, ERRIN organised an informal dialogue between ERRIN’s Smart Specialisation Working Group leaders and Sari Rautio, the European Committee of the Regions’ (CoR) Rapporteur on the next MFF. This exchange provided valuable insights into CoR's perspectives on the future EU budget the regional dimension of R&I funding. A stakeholder consultation is planned for the end of September ahead of the forthcoming CoR Opinion on the next MFF. ERRIN maintains a close dialogue with Sari Rautio and will invite members to contribute to this consultation once opened.
Shaping the EU’s future research and innovation landscape together
The unique value of ERRIN’s policy work lies in the close collaboration with and between our members, continuous dialogue with European institutions and ability to provide concrete input grounded in the diverse experiences and expertise of more than 120 regional R&I ecosystems. By working together, we can ensure a strong and influential voice in the debate on the next MFF. To ensure our advocacy reflects the diversity of our members' perspectives, we warmly invite ERRIN members to join these discussions and share your expertise and experience to contribute to ERRIN's planned MFF consultation responses. We also invite all members to upload their policy papers to be displayed on the ERRIN website and share comments, insights or information about key people we should invite to meet with ERRIN by sending an email to ewa.chomicz@errin.eu; maria.bostrom@errin.eu; pirita.lindholm@errin.eu.
ERRIN contributing to the MFF debate at the European Parliament
On 14 October, ERRIN’s Director, Pirita Lindholm, will contribute as a speaker a high-level roundtable organised by the European Parliament. The event, titled 'Unifying European R&I for Global Leadership and Competitiveness – Widening in the next Framework Programme', will bring together EU policymakers such as Commissioner Ekaterina Zaharieva, Member State representatives and R&I stakeholders. This timely discussion will focus on closing the innovation gap and harvesting the experience of widening measures; addressing persistent challenges and shaping a bold vision for widening excellence and participation, ensuring complementarities and mutual support with the upcoming Competitiveness Fund.
Please find more information and how to register here.
By participating in these high-level discussions alongside key EU policymakers, Member State representatives and key R&I stakeholders, ERRIN will continue to underline the importance of a place-based, ecosystem-driven approach in the future EU funding landscape.
ERRIN's advocacy efforts this autumn will continue to build on the extensive work ERRIN has done ahead of the Commission's 2028–2024 MFF proposal. This includes ERRIN's four-part paper series 'Towards the 10th Framework Programme', developed through a co-creation process with members, highlighting four crucial topics for enabling a place-based perspective in R&I policy and funding: EU Missions, Widening, support to territorial R&I ecosystems and European Partnerships. Drawing on this comprehensive paper series, ERRIN put together 10 key messages for how the EU can create the right conditions for R&I to thrive for a competitive Europe post-2027. These input papers and messages provided the basis for ERRIN's response to the Commission's MFF consultation ahead of the proposal.
We encourage all members to stay engaged and work with us to amplify these messages, ensuring that the local and regional perspective is heard in debate on the future R&I funding landscape.