EU signals plans to explore new ‘widening’ funding streams

Council suggests “more diversified” funding needed for countries with lower R&I performance

EU governments are set to ask the European Commission to investigate the development of new funding streams aimed at member states whose research and innovation performance lags the general R&I performance of the bloc.

Since 2014, the EU has had measures to widen participation in its R&I programmes, targeted at lagging performers. This group currently comprises the 13 countries that have joined the bloc since 2004, as well as Luxembourg and Portugal.