EURADA - European Association of Development Agencies

📢 The next Framework Programme (FP10): Challenges for EU R&D Funding The Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, has stated that the proposed €220 billion budget for the #FP10 is “not realistic.” While efforts will be made to increase funding, her priority is to simplify the programme and improve accessibility before its launch in 2028. 🔹 Plans include reforming Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe to facilitate private sector participation and reduce administrative burdens. 🔹 The EU needs to boost R&D investment to bridge the productivity gap with the US and China. 🔹 Wage disparities among researchers in different Member States will also be addressed, a key factor in attracting talent and strengthening European competitiveness. 📌 A concrete proposal for the #FP10 will be defined after the EU’s multiannual budget is presented in July.

📢 The next Framework Programme (FP10): Challenges for EU R&D Funding The Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, has stated that the proposed €220 billion budget for the #FP10 is “not realistic.” While efforts will be made to increase funding, her priority is to simplify the programme and improve accessibility before its launch in 2028. 🔹 Plans include reforming Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe to facilitate private sector participation and reduce administrative burdens. 🔹 The EU needs to boost R&D investment to bridge the productivity gap with the US and China. 🔹 Wage disparities among researchers in different Member States will also be addressed, a key factor in attracting talent and strengthening European competitiveness. 📌 A concrete proposal for the #FP10 will be defined after the EU’s multiannual budget is presented in July.

🚀 Join the I3 Support Facility’s Discussion Groups 🚀 The I3 Support Facility (I3SF), an initiative by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) in collaboration with DG REGIO, in which EURADA is part of the implementing consortium, is now accepting applications for experts to join its Discussion Groups. If you have experience in European #regional collaboration and are familiar with the I3 initiative and #SmartSpecialisationStrategies (S3), this is your chance to contribute to the future of interregional innovation policy. 📌 Why join? ✅ Share your expertise in key policy discussions. ✅ Connect with professionals from across Europe. ✅ Help shape innovative strategies for regional development. 📆 The groups will focus on topics such as interregional cooperation, stakeholder engagement, and funding instruments, running from 2025 to 2027. 🔗 Apply here by 16 February: https://lnkd.in/dDNyGbpY Don’t miss this opportunity to make an impact on Europe’s regional innovation landscape. 🚀

📢📢 EURADA statement on the Commission's communication on the 'Road to the next Multi-annual Financial Framework'  ⤵️ EURADA calls for safeguarding the key role of regional actors in EU budget reforms. The European Association of Regional Development Agencies (EURADA) supports the overall goal of streamlining the EU budget in the European Commission’s communication on the MFF post-2027 presented today. As key players in EU fund management, regional development agencies are well aware of the complexities beneficiaries face in navigating the fragmented landscape of EU funding instruments and strive to assist them in the most effective way. However, EURADA is concerned that the solution to this problem proposed by the Commission in its Communication, hinting at a more centralised governance of cohesion policy funds through the establishment of national single plans, could undermine regional development and innovation policies and, ultimately, their contribution to Europe’s competitiveness. We understand the need for a more strategic approach and the urgency of expediting policy-making in such difficult times. We appreciate the Commission's emphasis on involving regional and local partners, namely in the national plans. Yet, for this effort to be effective, regional governments and agencies must clearly remain in the driving seat, as they are in most cases the main actors coordinating different EU instruments on the ground, for instance through smart specialisation strategies. Regional governments and agencies play already a vital role in tailoring investments and projects to the specific specialisations and potential of local entrepreneurial and innovation ecosystems. A diminished role for these actors in the design and the management of the funds may risk losing essential expertise and capacity, as well as the ownership of the cohesion policy in the EU regions.   In the past, top-down approaches to industrial and innovation policies have shown limitations due to information asymmetry. To address these shortcomings, regional innovation policies and place-based strategies have emerged as effective solutions, including in the context of cohesion policy. A vertical architecture of EU funds in the future, if not complemented by sufficient involvement and empowerment of local entities through keeping the regional programmes, could bear the risk of inefficient allocation of resources. This may bring more regional disparities which can destabilise economic stability. https://lnkd.in/g27n7Czt

🚀 Welcoming Our Members at EURADA! 🇪🇺 Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming two EURADA members to our premises in Brussels! 🔹 First, we met with ADR Nord-Est, represented by Mr. Vasile Asandei, Director General, alongside our Vice-President, Andreea Leru. Key discussion points included: ✅ The future of Cohesion Policy post-2027, with concrete regional examples and a grassroots perspective. ✅ Mr. Asandei, who also represents Romania's Regional Development Agencies under Asociația Agențiilor pentru Dezvoltare Regională din România - ROREG, shared insights on ensuring the continued engagement of Romanian Development Agencies within the EURADA network. 🔹 We also had an insightful exchange with our colleagues from ART-ER on: ✅ The future of Smart Specialisation Strategies and their connection to the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) instrument. ✅ The evolving landscape of Cohesion Policy and its impact on regional development. The Italian delegation was represented by Valeria Bandini (EURADA Board Member), alongside Beatrice Cammertoni and Alice Terzani. At EURADA, we truly value these in-person discussions with our members, right here in Brussels—at the heart of the European neighborhood. These exchanges help us navigate the ongoing and future challenges that regional practitioners face daily. 🤝 Looking forward to continuing our collaboration and shaping the future of regional development together! #EURADA #RegionalDevelopment #CohesionPolicy #Innovation #SmartSpecialisation #InterregionalCooperation #EuropeanRegions

🌍 Recent Achievements of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region 🌍 The 2022-2023 implementation report highlights the achievements of the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) in transnational cooperation, sustainability, and innovation. 📌 Key initiatives: 🚢 Danube Multimodal Corridors and SUSTANCE: enhancing connectivity and promoting low-carbon energy solutions. 🚀 Danube Tech Valley Initiative: boosting innovation across the region. 🎓 Projects in education and vocational training, strengthening competitiveness. 🔹 Institutional cooperation and key forums Strategic partnerships have improved institutional frameworks and tackled ecological and infrastructural challenges. Additionally, the Annual Forums in Slovakia and Slovenia have fostered collaboration and increased international visibility.

🚀 EIT Urban Mobility and our member ADR Vest launch the Regional Innovation Scheme Joint Innovation Programme The programme, structured in two stages, aims to strengthen the local innovation ecosystem in urban mobility: 🔹 Stage 1 (2025): Led by EIT Urban Mobility, this phase will support: ▪️ Established startups through a dedicated programme. ▪️ A venture-building track for idea holders to develop new startups addressing specific urban mobility challenges. ▪️ It will conclude with a Demo Day, where selected projects will advance to Stage 2. 🔹 Stage 2 (2026): Led by @ADR Vest, this phase will focus on piloting the solutions developed in Stage 1. ▪️ Call closes: 17 March 2025 (17:00 CET) ▪️ Total funding: €400,000 (1 awarded project) 🔗 Further details and information here: https://lnkd.in/gStKmza5

📢 Join the I3 Community – Subscribe to the I3 Newsletter! 🚀 The Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument strengthens #interregional cooperation by connecting regional ecosystems in shared #SmartSpecialisation areas. It fosters sustainable links that accelerate the market uptake of research and drive innovation across European regions. To stay informed about all relevant I3 activities, subscribe to the I3 #Newsletter, the key tool to receive updates on: 💠 I3 Project Observatory – Track interregional innovation projects 💠 Matchmaking Platform – Connect with key stakeholders 💠 Training Sessions – Gain insights on innovation and investment 💠 Policy Lab – Engage in shaping future policies 💠 Project Handbook – Discover success stories from I3 initiatives 📩 Subscribe now: https://lnkd.in/g6_9ihfQ

📢 €175 million to support research, innovation, and a just transition in the steel and coal sectors The European Commission has approved funding for the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS), allocating €175 million for 2025 to support collaborative research in these key industrial sectors. 🔹 Two major “Big Ticket” calls will be launched in February 2025: ✅ €100 million for near-zero carbon steel production technologies ✅ €35 million for projects ensuring a #JustTransition in coal mining communities 🔹 An additional €40 million standard call will open in June 2025, covering both steel and coal. Steel remains essential for renewable energy technologies, making it strategically important for Europe. The RFCS aligns with the EU #GreenDeal and complements the Just Transition Mechanism, fostering innovation, decarbonisation, and industrial competitiveness. 

🌿 What’s Coming for LIFE in 2025 🌍 The LIFE Programme turns 33, continuing its mission to support sustainability and innovation in Europe. Key highlights for 2025: 🔹 LIFE Calls for Proposals open in April, with results from 2023 and 2024 announced early in the year. 🔹 LIFE Awards 2025 during EU Green Week will celebrate top projects in nature, climate action, and circular economy. 🔹 Major Events: LIFE will feature in the Plastic Waste Meeting (Feb), Forest Restoration Meeting (June), Aquatech Expo (March), and POLLUTEC 2025 (Oct). These highlights for 2025 will be of interest to EURADA Members as, according to a survey carried out in 2023 by EURADA and the OECD - OCDE, over 54% of surveyed Development Agencies across Europe manifested an interest in the LIFE Programme. 2025 promises new opportunities to build a cleaner, greener future! 🌱