Bridging the Gap: Alliance4Life’s Vision for a Stronger and More Inclusive FP10
Alliance4Life is proud to present its official Position Paper on the Future Framework Programme (FP10), calling for a more inclusive, differentiated, and impactful European Research and Innovation ecosystem.
Over the past decade, Widening Countries have made substantial progress: increasing their participation in EU research funding, improving success rates, and strengthening their competitiveness. Institutions from Central and Eastern Europe have demonstrated that targeted investment and commitment can lead to excellence and genuine impact. However, despite this progress, systemic barriers persist, and a growing internal divide within the Widening group threatens to slow Europe’s overall ambitions for cohesion and competitiveness.
Drawing on the collective expertise of twelve leading life science institutions across eleven Widening countries, Alliance4Life presents concrete, evidence-based recommendations for how FP10 can build on past successes and unlock the full potential of Europe’s scientific community.
Alliance4Life’s Contribution
Alliance4Life institutions stand as a proof of concept: with more than 40 Widening projects implemented and numerous follow-up initiatives launched, we have built research capacity, catalysed institutional reform, and strengthened the international visibility of life sciences and biomedicine in our region.
Our long-term collaboration demonstrates that strategic investments combined with cumulative development pathways create lasting impact. We have shown that Widening measures work when they are designed for sustainability, differentiation, and integration into the broader European Research Area.
“Together, we can build a truly competitive, resilient, and united European Research Area that leaves no potential behind.”
Ester Jarour
Project coordinator
Why It Matters
Investing in Widening institutions is not an act of charity—it is a strategic investment in Europe's future resilience, competitiveness, and scientific sovereignty.
The challenges Europe faces today—from pandemics to climate change and technological disruption—demand the mobilisation of scientific talent across all Member States. Excellence must no longer remain concentrated in a few regions but must be nurtured wherever it exists.
Central and Eastern European institutions have proven that, when given the right tools and sustained support, they can lead transformative research, forge international partnerships, and contribute to global scientific breakthroughs. Yet significant untapped potential remains, often hindered by disparities in funding, infrastructure, and systemic support.
Strengthening Widening institutions means enlarging Europe’s talent base, replacing brain drain with brain circulation, and building a more balanced and competitive research landscape. Life sciences and biomedicine—where Alliance4Life institutions particularly excel—are critical not only for Europe's global competitiveness but also for its health, environmental sustainability, and technological sovereignty.
If Europe wants to remain at the forefront of scientific innovation, it must harness the full capabilities of all its regions. FP10 provides a unique opportunity to consolidate the progress achieved and ensure that every corner of Europe can contribute meaningfully to tackling our most pressing challenges.
Our Key Recommendations
Alliance4Life’s position paper proposes five strategic priorities for FP10:
- Foster the sustainable development of research talent by supporting PhD and postdoc training, reintegration schemes, and capacity-building for research management in Widening regions.
- Tailor widening instruments to diverse levels of readiness, offering both capacity-building tools for emerging institutions and excellence-based opportunities for advanced centres.
- Ensure strategic and predictable long-term support through stepwise development pathways, better sequencing of calls, and multiannual programming.
- Align EU and national funding for sustainable change, promoting synergies between FP10 and cohesion policy instruments through harmonised rules, timelines, and the use of the Seal of Excellence.
- Strengthen higher education as a driver of innovation by integrating structured doctoral programmes, mentoring schemes, and education-research capacity-building initiatives into FP10 actions.
