On September 10, the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, delivered the State of the Union address. While her speech was largely dominated by geopolitics and industrial policy, she also made several announcements relevant to higher education, science, and research. In her words, Science has no passport, gender, ethnicity, or political colour. It is one of the most valuable global goods. This underlines Europe’s ambition to strengthen its role in global science.
Thanks to our colleagues and friends at YERUN Central Office in Brussels, who meticulously follow and report on the newest developments in the heart of Europe, we give an overview of the most important points relevant to our sector.
- Horizon Europe & Competitiveness Fund: A renewed and clear commitment to double Horizon Europe funding in the upcoming Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), alongside the Competitiveness Fund targeting critical sectors such as clean and digital transitions, health, biotech, space, and defence. Together, these instruments aim to support the full innovation lifecycle, from fundamental research to commercial scale-up, while simplifying funding and leveraging private investment.
- Artificial intelligence & deep tech: The Commission positioned AI as strategic to Europe’s independence and competitiveness. Forthcoming pillars include a Cloud and AI Development Act, a Quantum Sandbox, and European AI “gigafactories” to help startups develop, train and deploy next-generation models. Tech leaders will present a European AI & Tech Declaration committing private investment to Europe’s tech sovereignty. These measures complement the planned Scaleup Europe Fund to expand European risk capital for high-growth companies in AI, quantum and biotech.
- Single Market Roadmap to 2028: The Commission will present a roadmap with concrete deadlines to deepen integration across capital, services, energy, and telecoms. It will also advance the so-called 28th regime and the creation of the fifth freedom, the free circulation of knowledge and innovation, as a cornerstone of Europe’s competitiveness. In this context, the Commission reaffirmed its intention to launch a Scaleup Europe Fund, in partnership with private investors, to strengthen the availability of European capital for young, fast-growing companies in areas such as quantum, AI, and biotech, thereby bolstering Europe’s technological sovereignty.
- Choose Europe Initiative: Renewed reference to the €500 million package (2025–2027) to attract and retain researchers and academics, reinforcing Europe as a magnet for talent and an open science ecosystem.
- Misinformation: A strong defence of science against misinformation, with particular emphasis on health. President von der Leyen proposed the creation of a new European Centre for Democratic Resilience, bringing together expertise across Member States and neighbouring countries, and pledged increased support for journalism.
- Clean and affordable energy: Reaffirmed as central to Europe’s sovereignty and competitiveness.
- Housing & people: The first-ever European Affordable Housing Plan aims to make housing more affordable and sustainable, with particular reference to challenges faced by students, early-career workers, and families.
- Global health. Launch of a Global Health Resilience Initiative, with an explicit call-out to counter health disinformation and reinforce vaccination progress, relevant to EU-funded research and academic public-health partnerships
The full speech can be watched and read here.
Cover photo: European Commission