In the pursuit of greater inclusivity in European research and innovation, significant strides are being made towards making Widening a core part of the next hashtag#FP10 Framework Programme.

This initiative is driven by an informal task force in the European Parliament, focused on minimizing disparities and enhancing participation across the continent.

Our head of office, Ricardo Migueis, has made substantial contributions to this effort with Science|Business. Speaking on the structural changes needed, Ricardo notes, “Simply increasing participation from Widening countries is insufficient. We must embed mechanisms that ensure excellence and competitiveness across all European regions.”

His insights underscore the importance of building long-term capacity and aligning national and European R&D policies to create robust research ecosystems.

As we anticipate the European Commission’s proposal for FP10 this July, it’s crucial to consider how these enhanced policies will pave the way for a more equitable and innovative research environment across Europe.