European Research Area

The EU’s Research and Innovation Framework Programmes (FPs) – currently Horizon Europe and preparing their tenth cycle – are the European Union’s flagship funding instruments supporting scientific excellence, cross-border collaboration, and innovation with societal impact. ALLEA contributes to the shaping of these programmes by providing evidence-based advice and comments on legislative proposals, strategic orientations, and implementation measures, ensuring that the perspectives of Europe’s academies are systematically heard. Drawing on its long-standing expertise and the collective knowledge of its Member Academies, ALLEA advocates for Framework Programmes that are ambitious, inclusive, and grounded in the core values of excellent and responsible research. Key points ALLEA consistently promotes include: 

• Strong integration of the social sciences, humanities, and the arts across all thematic clusters and missions. 

• Safeguarding academic freedom and research integrity as foundational principles of EU-funded research. 

• Ensuring balanced, excellence-driven evaluation procedures that recognise diverse forms of scientific contribution. 

• Reducing administrative burden and simplifying participation, especially for early-career researchers and smaller institutions. 

• Supporting open science, data sharing, and research security in ways that protect both collaboration and the responsible use of knowledge. 

• Providing adequate and stable long-term funding, enabling researchers to tackle Europe’s most pressing societal challenges. 

Through its coordinated input, statements, and dialogue with EU institutions, ALLEA works to ensure that the Framework Programmes remain a robust and forward-looking engine for scientific advancement in Europe. 

For past activities in this area, see the example of ALLEA’s work on preparing Horizon Europe.