Tulanet, a consortium of Finnish research institutes: Funding should be allocated ambitiously to EU RDI cooperation

EU RDI funding produces a knowledge base that secures the competitiveness, security and resilience of Finland and Europe, as well as the well-being of people and the environment. RDI programmes (e.g. Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, European Space Programme, EU4Health and LIFE) are key strategic tools for this. Investments in RDI activities, infrastructure and expertise are needed in a wide range of research and technology areas. Cross-border public-private cooperation and pooled resources enable RDI activities that no country could do alone. This is the added value of EU-wide RDI cooperation, which Europe must hold on to.

Finland’s strengths include especially research-oriented cooperation projects aimed at solving societal challenges, which have been funded, for example, through Pillar II of the Horizon Europe Programme. Finnish research institutes have acquired 26% of the funding received by Finland from Horizon Europe (19.8.2024), in relative terms considerably more than their share of Finland’s R&D expenditure (<10%).

Preparations for the new EU financial framework have started, and Finnish research institutes want to raise their views on the most effective research funding.

1. RDI investments are a source of growth and competitiveness for the EU and Finland
EU-level RDI funding must be increased from the current level and stable resources must be guaranteed for RDI activities in order to boost Europe’s strategic competitiveness. It is also important to leverage private investments with EU RDI funding. RDI funding must be guaranteed an earmarked status regardless of the programme structure of the next financial framework period in order to ensure predictability of the operating environment and funding.

2. R&D funding must be based on excellence and competition – not on regional policy
Boosting strategic competitiveness requires a high level of R&D. Excellence of research and competition must remain the basis for EU R&D funding programmes. Regional policy or country-based allocations must not direct EU R&D funding.

3. Solution-oriented applied research strengthens the innovation chain
Balanced support for RDI activities, from early-stage research to the maturation of innovation into services and commercialisation, must be a key principle of EU RDI funding. Breakthrough innovations do not create commercial success stories without bridging applied research, and cutting-edge research does not lead to the well-being of society without solution-oriented RDI activities. Energy, climate, biodiversity loss, food production, land use, clean transition, health, security and defence are themes that require long-term research, piloting and co-creation. Research supporting cooperation and addressing societal challenges, previously funded under Pillar II of the Horizon programmes (”Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness”), must be safeguarded in the future EU R&D funding package.

4. Research and technology infrastructures are a key part of the innovation chain
The set of European research and technology infrastructures must enable high-quality R&D at all technology readiness levels (TRLs). What is currently lacking is a European strategy that also recognises the role of technology infrastructures and enables the development of the infrastructure ecosystem in the way needed to strengthen the future capabilities and resilience of European industry. Investing in shared research and technology infrastructures enables the creation of an RDI ecosystem that attracts expertise and investments also from outside Europe.

5. RDI programmes must be aligned with EU policy objectives
In order to achieve the EU’s objectives, it is important that research and innovation policy supports the EU’s strategic agenda and policy objectives. Synergies should be sought at all levels: between national and EU policies, between different RDI programmes and in public and private sector investments. By looking in the same direction and correctly targeted, RDI programmes can achieve impact in the short and long term.

 

Tulanet is the cooperative body of 11 Finnish government research institutes. Tulanet’s member organisations employ about 10,000 people. Tulanet comprises of:
• Geological Survey of Finland (GTK)
• Finnish meteorological Institute (FMI)
• Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke)
• National Land Survey of Finland (NLS)
• Finnish Food Authority
• Finnish Environment Institute (Syke)
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd.
• Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL)
• Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH)
• VATT Institute for Economic Research
• Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)

More information:

Sanna Marttinen, Executive director
sanna.marttinen@tulanet.fi