Dutch Universities Request Increased EU Investment in Research

2025-04-29 community

Brussels, Tuesday, 29 April 2025.
Dutch universities urge the EU to bolster research and innovation funding in the 2028-2034 budget to maintain Europe’s competitive edge against global powers like China and the US.

Critical Funding Requirements

The Universities of the Netherlands (UNL) has emphasized the necessity of substantial investment in research and innovation, specifically calling for a guaranteed independent FP10 program with a budget of €220 billion [1]. This aligns with the recent Draghi Report, which advocates for an even more ambitious annual research and innovation spending of €750-800 billion across the EU to maintain competitiveness with global powers [2].

Current Challenges and Opportunities

Annelien Bredenoord, chairperson of Erasmus University Rotterdam, highlights the critical geopolitical and economic challenges facing Europe, warning that insufficient focus on research and innovation could result in further loss of ground to competitors like China and the United States [1]. The urgency of this situation is underscored by current statistics showing that only 29% of high-quality research proposals can secure funding under existing budget constraints [2].

Strategic European Response

The European Commission is actively addressing these concerns through initiatives like the Global Gateway strategy, which aims to mobilize €300 billion in investments across various sectors including research systems [3]. This strategy aligns with the EU’s broader commitment to strengthening international partnerships and maintaining global competitiveness. Additionally, on March 11, 2025, EU ministers for research and innovation united in calling for a stand-alone EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation [4].

Future Implementation and Targets

The universities are advocating for all Member States to meet the long-standing Lisbon target of investing 3% of GDP in research and innovation [1]. This goal has gained renewed significance following the European Commission’s recent assessment showing uneven implementation of reforms in transnational cooperation [5]. The proposal for the 2028-2034 budget framework represents a critical opportunity to address these challenges and strengthen Europe’s research capabilities.

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