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The European Commission has unveiled a comprehensive digital package aimed at reducing the administrative burden on businesses and boosting innovation across Europe. With simplified rules for artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity and data use, as well as the introduction of a European Business Wallet, the EU aims to streamline processes for SMEs, start-ups and industrial companies, and make the digital single market more efficient.

The European Union has approved the annual budget for 2026, thereby confirming the important role of research and innovation in ensuring Europe's future viability. €14.1 billion has been earmarked for research and innovation, €13 billion of which will go to Horizon Europe, ensuring stable funding levels. Despite the tight budgetary situation, the EU is maintaining its stable funding approach and continues to provide a reliable basis for planning for stakeholders in science, industry and civil society.

The European Union and Switzerland have signed the Association Agreement on Horizon Europe, Digital Europe, and the Euratom Research & Training Programme. This means that Swiss research institutions and companies now have the same participation conditions as partners from EU member states: they can coordinate consortia, apply directly for EU funding, and participate in all programme pillars. For Bavaria, this opens up new opportunities for cross-border cooperation in research, innovation, and technology transfer—particularly in key areas such as climate and energy solutions, digital transformation, health, Industry 4.0, and security.

The European Commission has published the 2026 work programme of the European Innovation Council (EIC). With a total budget of over €1.4 billion, the EIC will continue to support innovative projects and high-growth companies in Europe in the coming year, with a particular focus on deep tech developments, strategic technologies and the scaling of start-ups and SMEs.

The European Commission launched the pilot of RAISE (“Resource for Artificial Intelligence Science in Europe”) at the European AI in Science Summit in Copenhagen. The aim of this new virtual research institute is to develop Europe into a global center for AI-supported science and to accelerate research breakthroughs in key areas such as medicine, climate, materials science, and natural hazard prevention.

From 1 to 5 November 2025, Bavaria's Minister President, Dr Markus Söder, will travel to the Republic of South Africa. The destination is the partner province of the Western Cape, with its capital Cape Town. The trip will focus on political discussions and strengthening scientific and economic cooperation between Bavaria and South Africa, particularly in the areas of research, innovation, and technology transfer. 
Martin Reichel, the Managing Director of the Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR), attended the signing of the ‘Bavaria–Western Cape Biotech Initiative’ as BayFOR is home to the Bavaria–Québec/Bavaria–Alberta/International Scientific Coordination Office (WKS) and the Bavaria–Africa WKS. The former supports scientific and technological cooperation within the framework of the Conference of Heads of Government, while the latter will coordinate strategic biotech partnerships.

The European Commission and Japan have reaffirmed their intention to finalize Japan's association with the European research and innovation program Horizon Europe by the end of 2025. Egypt is already one step further: as the second African country after Morocco (2023), it has now officially joined the program. This opens up further international cooperation opportunities for Bavarian research institutions, universities, and companies – supported by the Scientific Coordination Office Bavaria-Africa (WKS Bavaria-Africa) of the Bavarian Research Alliance (BayFOR).

At the beginning of October, the European Commission once again made an updated draft of the 2026–27 work programmes for the “Climate, Energy, and Mobility” cluster and for the five EU missions available in the Comitology Register once again. Please note, however, that these are not final documents and significant changes are still possible!

Successful EU research projects require not only scientific excellence and professional management. With a budget of over €95 billion for research and innovation, and more than 20,000 participating institutions, the EU Framework Programme Horizon Europe (2021–2027) makes efficient project management crucial for success.

The European Commission has launched a public consultation and call for evidence on the planned Advanced Materials Act. The aim is to gather feedback from all relevant stakeholders—researchers, companies, SMEs, and policymakers—in order to establish a robust European framework for advanced materials. Deadline: 13 January 2026.