Latest news

The European Commission, on behalf of the European Union and the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has launched negotiations on a bilateral agreement for cooperation in science and technology. The aim is to strategically strengthen and politically anchor collaboration in research and innovation.

The European Union is steadily advancing toward climate neutrality by 2050. As the share of clean energy sources in the energy mix increases, so does the importance of innovative technologies—many of which are still in the research and development phase. A new study funded under Horizon Europe now provides concrete methodological tools to assess these technologies at an early and systematic stage.

The European Commission has officially launched “BE READY”, a new European Partnership for pandemic preparedness under Horizon Europe. The initiative aims to strengthen the European Union’s capacity to anticipate, prevent and rapidly respond to epidemics and pandemics. An initial €120 million from the Horizon Europe budget has been allocated to support the partnership’s activities.

The European Commission is preparing an EU Action Plan for women in research, innovation and start-ups. This initiative aims to reduce existing gender imbalances and, in the long term, strengthen diversity, equality and inclusion in the European Research Area (ERA). Through this plan, the EU intends to establish the ERA as the world's most attractive destination for women in research, innovation, and entrepreneurship by 2030. Better utilisation of all talent, regardless of gender, should also contribute significantly to Europe's competitiveness and innovative strength.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation on a new EU strategy for agricultural research and innovation. Stakeholders are invited to contribute to the future direction of research and innovation in agriculture, forestry, and rural areas.

On 10 December, the European Commission officially launched the European Partnership for Virtual Worlds. This new partnership aims to bring together industry, academia, research institutions, and users to promote research and innovation in virtual worlds, thereby strengthening Europe's technological sovereignty.

The Republic of Cyprus will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the first half of 2026, beginning on 1 January. Under the motto 'An autonomous Europe, open to the world', Cyprus has set out its key political priorities at a time of significant geopolitical and economic challenges for the EU.

Our office will be closed from 22 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. We will resume our services on 7 January 2026.

In urgent matters, you can reach our team – between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. – at administration@no-spam-pleasebayfor.org or by phone at +49 89 9901 888-0 on the following days:
22/23 December 2025, 29/30 December 2025, and 5 January 2026. On 2 January 2026, the office will also remain closed.

Season's Greetings and a Happy New Year!
Your team of the Bavarian Research Alliance

The European Commission has approved the main work programme for Horizon Europe for the period 2026–2027. With a total budget of €14 billion, the EU will specifically strengthen its global leadership in research and innovation. Key European priorities such as climate neutrality, the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), and Europe's resilience in a rapidly changing world will be given particular focus.

A recent study by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) reveals that Munich is on par with Paris and Madrid as a leading hub for digital research, innovation, and startups within the European Union. The analysis provides valuable insights for the EU's strategy to promote start-ups and scale-ups..