Newsletter September 2024
EU Funding and Dual-Use Research: A Strategic Shift in EU Innovation Policy
For the first time, research and innovation for dual-use technologies appear in the EU's Strategic Agenda 2024-2029.
Until now, EU Framework Programmes, including Horizon Europe, have focused solely on civil research and the European Defence Fund has supported defence-related projects. However, the next Framework Programme, FP10, could adopt a more flexible approach, potentially offering dedicated instruments for dual-use R&D or selectively allowing such research in certain areas. The EC envisions 3 options:
1) Extension of the current model: dual-use is implemented only in the European Defence Fund.
2) Removing the exclusive focus on civil applications in selected parts of FP10.
3) Creation of a specific instrument for dual-use research.
The research community is understandably concerned about how this trend will affect existing budgets and programmes, and the extent to which research organisations are willing and able to participate in military, dual-use or civil security research and innovation programmes.
Moreover, researchers in Associated Countries and Third Countries fear that their participation might be restricted in these parts of the programme. So far, there have only been a few exclusions in Horizon Europe's Cluster 3 “Civil Security for Society” but already more in quantum and space calls, for reasons of strategic autonomy.
All Cluster 3 topics in the 2024 Work Programme are open to participation from entities in Switzerland. Stay tuned for further developments.
Author: Nicole Wyss, National Contact Point for Civil Security for Society
Illustration: Alexandra Rosakis
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