Orgalime preliminary views on shaping the future FP9

With the second half of the Horizon 2020 programming period well underway, the European Commission is already looking to the future and to the Framework Programme (FP) that will succeed Horizon 2020 – for now simply known as FP9. For the firms Orgalime represents, innovation in products, processes and systems is the driving force behind their success and market expansion. This makes Horizon 2020 a valuable resource to the engineering and manufacturing sectors, enhancing their global competitiveness and encouraging cross-border collaboration.

When it comes to research and development (R&D), however, the EU is operating in an increasingly challenging international environment. Competition from Asia and the US is fiercer than ever and the European engineering and manufacturing industries are feeling the heat. To keep pace and transform Europe into the world’s innovation centre, massive R&D investment will be crucial. EU funding in the shape of FP9 has a central role to play.

This is why Orgalime believes that FP9 must concentrate on the competitiveness of Europe’s manufacturing and specifically engineering in a globalised world. This position paper presents our preliminary views on the steps that should be taken to make this happen: from retaining the focus on collaborative industrial research, to keeping the three-pillar structure intact (including the dedicated focus on industrial technologies) and upholding the excellence principle. By focussing on these key priorities, FP9 can help make the EU a top destination for manufacturing investment once more – contributing to job creation and economic growth in the process.

Download our position paper to read our recommendations in full.