FP10 Unveiled: What’s New in the Next EU R&I Programme
Across Europe, startups, researchers and regional innovation agencies are looking ahead to what comes after Horizon Europe. The next big research and innovation framework—Framework Programme 10 (FP10)—is starting to take shape.
A leaked draft from the European Commission outlines what could be a major evolution in how the EU supports innovation, science, and competitiveness between 2028 and 2034. And this time, the changes are structural.
From 3 to 4 Pillars: A Shift in Strategy
The first and one of the most important novelties in the programme drafted is that the new FP10 introduces a four-pillar model. Moving forward from the three pillars from the FP9. While Horizon Europe 2021-2027 focused on three main goals—science, global challenges, and innovation—FP10 adds a fourth: the European Research Area (ERA).
The new structure is:
- Pillar 1 – Excellent Science: Led by the ERC and MSCA, with more focus on talent attraction and retention.
- Pillar 2 – Competitiveness and Society: Replaces “Global Challenges,” and is now closely tied to the new European Competitiveness Fund (ECF).
- Pillar 3 – Innovation: Driven by the European Innovation Council (EIC), which takes on a stronger, ARPA-style model.
- Pillar 4 – ERA: Supporting infrastructure, widening participation, and brain circulation.
This means one thing: innovation policy is no longer just about funding research. It’s about aligning with broader investment and industrial strategies.
The ECF Connection: Strategic or Controlling?
One of the most critical developments is the tight link between FP10 and the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF). The pillar 2, which supports collaborative R&I, will be governed by a new Competitiveness Coordination Tool under the ECF regulation. This adds complexity on the governance that can also change how decisions are made regarding the different clusters. It might move from purely research-driven criteria and towards a industrial and innovation approach.
The goal is that the projects should flow from research to market, from lab to startup to manufacturing, with one investment pipeline. Making the flow more market oriented.
This could centralise too much power in the hands of the Commission.
Faster, Simpler, and More Startup-Friendly?
Besides the structural changes, there are clear improvements on how the calls are going to be organised. The Commission has taken in consideration some comments from applicants and intends to improve different details from the calls:
- Lump sums by default, cutting red tape.
- Faster grant procedures, with shorter time-to-grant.
- Simplified partnerships and clearer investment windows.
From Idea to Market: A New Investment Logic
As we have mentioned previously, the EC is shifting the grants approach into a market oriented one. FP10 promotes a more integrated logic: projects can start in ERC or MSCA, grow under collaborative R&I, and scale with EIC or ECF investment.
This step-by-step approach could finally address the “valley of death” of many European ventures face between research and commercialisation. It also supports high-ambition “moonshot” projects—from clean aviation and fusion energy to quantum computing. For regional authorities, the key will be to align smart specialisation strategies with these major EU-level priorities.
A New Role for Regions: Widening and Transition
The newly created Pillar 4 is good news for regions. It introduces a clearer divide between Widening countries and a new group: Transition countries. These are regions that have made progress in improving R&I systems but still need tailored support. FP10 proposes:
- More resources for capacity building, networking, and talent retention.
- Support for research infrastructures, with up to 20% EU co-funding.
- Expanded opportunities for regional actors to coordinate projects.
The focus is clear: build stronger regional ecosystems and close the performance gap across Europe.
What’s Next?
For regional innovation stakeholders, FP10 is more than just another EU programme. It’s a chance to rethink how ecosystems connect with the European research and innovation landscape. The new structure could bring more tools, more visibility, and more funding. But it also demands more alignment, more capacity, and more strategic vision.
Those who prepare early—mapping strengths, building partnerships, and watching the ECF closely—will have the best shot at turning this next framework into real regional impact.
Several questions remain:
- Who will really steer Pillar 2—DG R&I or the ECF governance?
- Will bottom-up innovation survive the strategic shift?
- How accessible will missions and moonshots be to smaller ecosystems?
The final proposal will be published soon, alongside the new EU budget framework. But for now, it’s clear that FP10 signals a shift: from program to platform, from projects to pipelines, and from funding to investment logic.
