Increase Horizon 2020 spending, says Itre

The Horizon 2020 budget should be significantly increased to secure the financing of research and innovation in the EU, according to the European Parliament’s Committee on Industry, Research and Energy (Itre).

The level of spending proposed by the European Commission in the research programme—and related areas such as competitiveness, SMEs and infrastructure—constitutes a “bare minimum”, according to Itre. Cuts in these areas would jeopardise economic growth as well as damaging the EU’s credibility, the committee said.