Proposal for a 20-year Programme of EU for the years 2026-2045
Ugo Amaldi, Roberto Antonelli, Carlo Doglioni, Luciano Maiani and Giorgio Parisi
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Spending on research is a highly profitable investment. The U.S. National Academy of Sciences has demonstrated that for every dollar spent on research, society is rewarded with five dollars in the long term, representing a 500% return on investment. Similarly, according to the European Commission every euro invested by Governments in research — subdivided between basic research (typically two thirds) and applied research — increases, in the long period, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 4-7 euros.
Despite the evidence, the European Union, which stands as a global leader in knowledge and culture, does not invest enough in the development of science, incrementing a potential economic decline.
This document addresses a critical, yet overlooked, problem: the vast and unacceptable disparity in public research funding among EU member states. For decades, Europe has failed to close this gap despite the unanimous approval of the Lisbon and Europe strategies.
This failure has created a two-speed Europe: one third of the 27 countries are pushing the boundaries of science, while the majority lack the resources to train their young talents and contribute meaningfully the long-term economic development of the whole Europe. This is not just an injustice—it's an economic and social waste.
This proposal outlines a concrete 20-year program for European public research, aiming to correct this structural weakness. We propose a co-funded plan to gradually raise the public research investment in the most disadvantaged countries to 0.75% of GDP, which was the 2022 European average, still far from the 1% of the 2000 Lisbon strategy. This initiative is designed to:
- Promote long-term economic development by leveraging the proven link between research investment and GDP growth.
- Stop and invert the "brain drain" by creating the necessary conditions to retain top scientific talents and attract those who have emigrated, particularly in USA.
- Strengthen European cohesion and competitiveness by ensuring all member states can contribute to the continent's scientific and technological present and future.
This program is both necessary and timely. With global competition intensifying and geopolitical shifts affecting the international flow of talent, Europe has a unique window of opportunity to position itself as the undisputed leader in science and innovation.
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The full document is attached.