Expert group: EU should invest heavily in research and innovation

If Europe is not to fall behind in the global technology race, it must invest heavily in research and development.

This message has recently been repeated by both European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi.

The same message comes from DTU President Anders Bjarklev and the other 14 members of an expert group that on Wednesday presented its recommendations on how the EU should structure its research policy. Not least when it comes to the important Horizon Europe programme, which has an annual budget of more than 15 billion euros.

The expert group points to 12 concrete measures that can help strengthen competitiveness in Europe. To succeed, we need an ambitious policy that manages to combine research and business, says President Anders Bjarklev:

"Europe needs a strong innovation ecosystem that can compete globally. I am therefore pleased that the expert group has made recommendations, especially in the field of innovation, that support new approaches and entrepreneurship at all levels and, not least, ensure that innovation is used to benefit our society."

The recommendations have been given to the new European Commission, which will be in office until 2029 and will therefore set the course for the EU's future research and development policy. And Anders Bjarklev expects the Commission to be responsive to the 12 points:

"If the EU is to continue to compete with China, the US and others, we need to raise the level of ambition in research and development. It is knowledge and innovation that will drive economic growth in Europe. I am convinced that the Commission agrees with this and I expect it to take some of these ideas forward, creating a strong foundation for innovation in Europe that can last well into the future."

Read the full expert group report and recommendations here.