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The European Union ministers are discussing artificial intelligence in science and mid-term evaluation of Horizon Europe at the EU Council meetings this May. Europe is stepping up its ambition to cement the position of a global leader in research: e.g. new calls worth over €1.25 billion in 2025 open doors for new talents. The funding will support cutting edge research and focus on developing research talent, fostering international collaboration and connecting science with socio-economic development.
Background
In the beginning of May, the member states’ representatives to the EU approved the agenda for the Competitiveness Council for the session on 22-23 May at which the EU-27 member states ministers will discuss artificial intelligence (AI) in science and the mid-term evaluation of the Horizon Europe framework program.
According to the representatives’ draft conclusions, the ministers intend to urge the European Commission “to provide quality benchmarks for AI in science in close cooperation with the scientific community, and monitoring the effects of AI uptake in R&I, counteract malicious uses and alert on inappropriate practices and other misuses, in close cooperation with the member states and based on a human-centric approach and the principles of digital humanism”.
The EU Council will also stress the need to develop and frequently update guidelines, benchmarks and best practices for the use of AI in science to ensure integrity and transparency and to enhance the reliability and validity of R&I outputs, while also promoting technical standardization to enhance interoperability, “reproducibility” and fostering the ever vital aspects of safe AI performance.
More on the draft conclusions in: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-8390-2025-INIT/en/pdf
Issues for discussion
Regarding the issue of Horizon Europe program, the member states ministers would discuss three questions put forward by the Polish Presidency of the EU Council: – the results of the interim evaluation of Horizon Europe which they consider to be essential; – ways of easing and accelerating the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Framework Program; – the prospects for the announced new role of the European Innovation Council (EIC) in supporting dual-use technologies as part of the program. Between 2021 and 2024, Horizon Europe financed over 15,000 projects with an allocation exceeding € 43 billion – representing 58.4% of the program’s total budget. The flagship initiatives under Horizon Europe: the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Innovation Council (EIC) both deliver substantially for scientific progress and economic growth.
In its note, the Polish Council Presidency pointed out that almost 70% of high-quality projects were not funded due to Horizon Europe’s budget limitations, and that only 16% of applications were successful. In order to have funded them, Horizon Europe would have needed nearly €82 billion more, the Polish Council concluded.
More in the “Mid-term evaluation of Horizon Europe: lessons learned and looking forward to the next Framework Program for Research and Innovation” in: https://data.consilium.europa.eu/doc/document/ST-8496-2025-INIT/en/pdf
Horizon Europe: the EU-wide R&I program
Horizon Europe is the EU’s €93.5 billion research and innovation (R&I) program running from 2021 to 2027. Most of the program’s funding is allocated based on competitive calls for proposals adequate to the program’s objectives and specific topic areas. The work program also includes the applicable rules such as the standard admissibility conditions and eligibility criteria, selection and award criteria. The 2025 Horizon Europe work program is based on Horizon Europe’s strategic plan 2025-2027, adopted in March 2024, which was co-created by Commission services and co-designed with the EU member states and countries associated with Horizon Europe, the European Parliament and more than 2,000 stakeholders and citizens. Contributions from stakeholders for the 2025 work program were also collected through a feedback opportunity open in April and May 2024.
More on Program’s strategic plan in: https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/strategic-plan_en
According to newly adopted work program for 2025, the European Commission is investing over €7.3 billion to strengthen Europe’s research and innovation efforts reaching the global edge: the new program will drive cutting-edge science, accelerate the EU’s green and digital transitions and enhance Europe’s competitiveness. Research and innovation (R&I) are central to the EU’s priorities – from boosting competitiveness, defense and security to improving citizens’ lives: thus, the 2025 work program will fund digital and space technologies, support green projects and sustainable development; it also helps cutting carbon emissions and reduce energy costs.
The so-called “EU Missions” are a novelty in the Horizon Europe program and a new way to bring concrete R&I solutions to some of EU’s greatest challenges; the “missions” are having ambitious goals and will deliver concrete results by 2030.They put research and innovation into a new role, combined with new forms of governance and collaboration, as well as by engaging citizens.
The five “EU Missions” are:
1. Adaptation to Climate Change: support at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030
2. Cancer: working with Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan to improve the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through prevention, cure and solutions to live longer and better
3. Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030
4. 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030
5. A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030
More than €663 million will be invested in these five EU-wide missions.
Another vital sector, i.e. accelerating climate and digital goals, intends to make Europe the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050, the EU is directing 35% of Horizon Europe funding towards climate goals. In the 2025 work program, 35% of the budget is allocated to climate action and 8.8% to biodiversity.
This includes €1.14 billion for climate, energy and transport projects, and €833 million for food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment. At the same time, 36% of its Horizon Europe funding supports the digital transition, with €1.6 billion earmarked for artificial intelligence development.
More in: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1146
Recent actions
The Commission for long cherished an idea of making research careers in Europe more attractive; the newly launched program “Choose Europe for Science” is a part of this. The program provides funding for organizations to set up research at postdoctoral level, each recruiting a minimum of 3 researchers. The ‘Choose Europe for Science’ pilot call is open to organizations from across the R&I landscape in the EU and countries associated to Horizon Europe. This can include universities, research infrastructures, research centers, government institutions dedicated to research, research performing organisations, as well as R&D-oriented spin-offs, among others. These organizations are then responsible for advertising positions and recruiting researchers to the program.
The Commission is announcing this May two new calls for funding in research careers and global collaboration, that will be open later this year through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, MSCA:
= The MSCA Doctoral Networks (€597.8 million, 28 May-25 November): recruit and train doctoral candidates in academia and other sectors, including industry, businesses and public administrations. The scheme also includes specialized Joint Doctorate Networks and Industrial Doctorate Networks.
= The MSCA & Citizens (€16.3 million, 17 June-22 October): brings science closer to the public with the European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools activities, showcasing the impact of research on citizens’ daily life.
The MSCAs will also dedicate an additional €10 million to support displaced Ukrainian researchers through the MSCA4Ukraine fellowship scheme.
This complements three calls that have already opened this year:
= The MSCA COFUND (€105.6 million, closes 24 June): helps organizations create or enhance their own doctoral training and postdoctoral fellowship programs. The aim is to attract and recruit talented researchers, developing their skills and advancing their careers.
= The MSCA Staff Exchanges (€97.7 million, closes 8 October): funds R&I collaborative projects, fostering international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary exchanges and knowledge sharing at all stages of the innovation chain.
= The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (€404.3 million, closes 10 September 2025): helps experienced researchers acquire new skills, develop their careers and gain international, interdisciplinary, and inter-sectoral experience by working abroad.
Research and studies funded by the ‘Choose Europe for Science’ program will operate in two stages: a first stage lasting 24 or 36 months in which the EU will provide funding equivalent to the minimum gross monthly remuneration of recruited researchers amounting to €6700. The second stage of 24 months will be funded entirely by the beneficiary with remuneration rates to be set at a level that is nationally or regionally competitive. Throughout these phases the recruited researchers are expected to be given long-term career prospects that will extend beyond the project duration.
Source and reference to: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_25_1221; and https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_25_1222