In an input note published on 26 March, CESAER puts forward concrete proposals to clarify and optimise the positioning of civil, dual-use, and defence research and innovation in future EU funding programmes.

At its meeting in Karlsruhe on 23-24 March, our Board of Directors has appointed Zita Martins as Co-Chair to our Workgroup Dual-Use, Defence and Space, and Lea Zwimpfer as Co-Chair to Task Force Talent, Careers and Staff Development

CESAER has published additional proposed amendments to FP10, complementing the joint amendments package agreed with partner organisations. Building on shared priorities, these proposals bring in the specific expertise of universities of science and technology to help ensure that the future programme is both ambitious and workable in practice.

CESAER welcomes the European Parliament’s reports published on 13 March on the future of Horizon Europe and calls for swift progress towards a strong, autonomous and expert-driven framework programme.

CESAER’s contributions to the European research security debate have been recognised in the European Commission’s recently published Research Security Monitoring Report.

As Europe is reshaping its funding architecture this must reflect the realities of innovation on the ground — and CESAER Member Kyiv Polytechnic Institute has lessons to offer.

CESAER contributes to high-level Brussels dialogue on FP10, the European Competitiveness Fund and Europe’s technological future together with TU Austria and TU9.

At a European Parliament hearing on Horizon Europe 2028–2034 on 26 February 2026, Manuel Heitor—Chair of Commission expert group for Horizon Europe, CESAER Envoy 2023–2025 and Professor at IST Lisbon—sets out how stronger, expert-led governance can boost Europe’s competitiveness, research careers and innovation impact.

Europe’s competitiveness now depends on delivery. In a joint statement with key partners, CESAER sets out how FP10 and the European Competitiveness Fund can work together as autonomous, complementary programmes—linking excellence-driven research to the accelerated development of advanced technologies and associated talent and helping Europe move faster from breakthroughs to scale and impact.

On 18 February, CESAER and partners present amendments for a strengthened Erasmus+ that reinforces its core missions, ensures adequate investment and governance, and builds strategic synergies to support Europe’s competitiveness, resilience and talent base.