Press Release – Horizon Europe Proposal Recognises R&I Priorities, clarity is needed

23 July 2025 – Plants for the Future ETP welcomes the European Commission’s proposal for Horizon Europe 2028–2034, the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

The proposal places research and innovation at the heart of the EU’s strategy for competitiveness, sustainability, and resilience. It highlights the importance of public-private partnerships, simplification, and increased investment in innovation—key priorities for the plant sector.

Plant ETP particularly values the programme’s attention to biotechnology, agriculture, and the bioeconomy, and sees strong potential for establishing a dedicated plant breeding partnership. However, questions remain about how Horizon Europe will be coordinated with the European Competitiveness Fund (ECF), and how this alignment will support plant breeding research and innovation across the value chain.

We call on EU institutions to ensure a transparent and coherent integration between Horizon Europe and the ECF, and to support a strong R&I ecosystem that enables innovation to flow from fundamental research to market uptake.

Download the press release here.