On 26 February 2026, at the European Parliament’s public hearing (website and programme PDF) on Horizon Europe 2028–2034, Manuel Heitor presented recommendations to strengthen the governance, structure and funding of FP10. Drawing on his work as chair of the European Commission High-Level Expert Group on Horizon Europe and its report Align, Act, Accelerate, as CESAER Envoy 2023–2025, and his long engagement with the research and innovation landscape across Europe, he argued that Europe’s competitiveness, security and prosperity depend on reinforcing expert-led governance, investing in research careers and ensuring that Framework Programmes remain shaped by scientists and innovators.
The speech revisits the Haldane Principle and applies it to current debates on FP10, the Multiannual Financial Framework 2028–2034 and the broader European research and innovation ecosystem. It provides a structured overview of key themes: democratic governance of science, innovation-driven growth, lessons from Horizon Europe, proposals for FP10 governance and funding, and implications for research careers and global cooperation.
Read the full speech delivered at the European Parliament’s public hearing on Horizon Europe 2028–2034 here:
The full text of the speech is published with the author’s permission.
The speech is structured around five main sections:
The written document underpinning the speech concludes with annexes addressing investment, governance reforms, research careers, ecosystem coordination and global cooperation:
Together, these sections provide a comprehensive roadmap for shaping FP10 and strengthening Europe’s research and innovation system.
The speech opens by arguing that Europe is at a decisive moment in which research and innovation must help turn geopolitical uncertainty into strategic choices. It revisits the Haldane Principle—that research priorities should be set by scientists rather than politicians—and presents it as a cornerstone of the European way of governing research and innovation, combining intellectual freedom, pluralism and democratic accountability.
Drawing on economic research on innovation-led growth, the speech emphasises that innovation is the key driver of prosperity but that institutions and incentives determine whether its benefits are shared. In a period of rapid advances in artificial intelligence and deep technologies, governance must be flexible, expert-led and trusted.
The speech analyses current governance challenges in Horizon Europe. It highlights the success of the European Research Council and the European Innovation Council as examples of expert-led governance, while warning against excessive bureaucracy, one-size-fits-all rules and insufficient dialogue between programme managers and the research community. Effective simplification must serve researchers rather than administrative convenience.
Building on expert reports such as the “Align, Act, Accelerate” (AAA) report, the speech proposes strengthening the autonomy of ERC and EIC, creating new independent councils to govern collaborative research, improving programme management expertise and ensuring FP10 operates as a strong standalone programme with adequate funding.
A central message is the need to invest in research careers. Expanding Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and initiatives such as Choose Europe can turn brain drain from Europe into brain gain to Europe by strengthening Europe’s attractiveness for global talent.
The speech stresses that FP10 must be smartly aligned with cohesion policy, the European Competitiveness Fund, space and defence programmes, and global cooperation frameworks. Research is described as a European public good requiring sustained investment and coordinated governance.
For more information, please contact Secretary General Mattias Björnmalm.
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