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In 2024, EU member states invested an estimated €403.1 billion in research and development (R&D). This is an increase of 3.6% compared to 2023, when the figure was €389.2 billion. A ten-year comparison reveals significant growth: since 2014, R&D expenditure has increased by 62.2% (from €248.6 billion). The R&D intensity of an EU country indicates the extent to which research and development is prioritised as a strategic area of action.

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) have signed their first joint guidelines for cooperation. The agreement, drawn up by the EIT and the European Commission's Directorate-General for the Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship, and SMEs (DG GROW), provides the framework for Europe-wide, strategic coordination, including pilot activities for 2025.

The EU continues to expand its innovation landscape in the water sector. The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) has announced the winning consortium for the new Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC), 'EIT Water'. This new EIT innovation community will address key challenges relating to water resources, marine ecosystems, and the sustainable blue economy, actively shaping Europe's water future in the process.

The EU-funded project TwinVECTOR has strengthened Czech expertise in advanced battery research, sustainability and techno-economic assessment through European cooperation over the past three years. By enhancing the research and management capacities at Tomas Bata University in Zlín and through new international collaborations, multidisciplinary teams worked on next-generation battery technologies. The focus was on the safety, sustainability and costs of lithium-ion batteries as well as the development of a modified solid polymer electrolyte.

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The European Commission has presented a new bioeconomy strategy aimed at accelerating Europe's transformation towards a sustainable, competitive and resilient economy. The strategic framework sets out how Europe can make more efficient use of biological resources from land and sea to drive the circular economy, decarbonisation, and independence from fossil fuel imports.

The European Commission has unveiled a comprehensive digital package aimed at reducing the administrative burden on businesses and boosting innovation across Europe. With simplified rules for artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and data use, as well as the introduction of a European Business Wallet, the EU aims to streamline processes for SMEs, start-ups and industrial companies, and make the digital single market more efficient.

The European Union has approved the annual budget for 2026, thereby confirming the important role of research and innovation in ensuring Europe's future viability. €14.1 billion has been earmarked for research and innovation, €13 billion of which will go to Horizon Europe, ensuring stable funding levels. Despite the tight budgetary situation, the EU is maintaining its stable funding approach and continues to provide a reliable basis for planning for stakeholders in science, industry and civil society.

The European Union and Switzerland have signed the Association Agreement on Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, and the Euratom Research & Training Programme. This means that Swiss research institutions and companies now have the same participation conditions as partners from EU member states: they can coordinate consortia, apply directly for EU funding, and participate in all programme pillars. For Bavaria, this opens up new opportunities for cross-border cooperation in research, innovation, and technology transfer—particularly in key areas such as climate and energy solutions, digital transformation, health, Industry 4.0, and security.

The European Commission has published the 2026 work programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC). With a total budget of over €1.4 billion, the EIC will continue to support innovative projects and high-growth companies in Europe in the coming year, with a particular focus on deep tech developments, strategic technologies and the scaling of start-ups and SMEs.

The European Commission launched the pilot of RAISE (“Resource for Artificial Intelligence Science in Europe”) at the European AI in Science Summit in Copenhagen. The aim of this new virtual research institute is to develop Europe into a global center for AI-supported science and to accelerate research breakthroughs in key areas such as medicine, climate, materials science, and natural hazard prevention.