European R&I Days are taking place in Brussels and online

The European Research and Innovation Days 2026 are taking place in Brussels and online on 10 and 11 November 2026, bringing together policymakers, researchers, innovators, businesses and citizens to discuss how science and technology can boost Europe's competitiveness, resilience and global partnerships.

Over two days, participants explore how to strengthen Europe's research capacity, help startups and scaleups grow, make EU funding easier to access, and turn scientific excellence into practical results. The event also highlights the importance of academic freedom, cooperation with trusted international partners, and the right conditions for research and innovation to flourish across Europe. The event is opened today by Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, who will also close it tomorrow.

As part of the European Commission's annual engagement with the research and innovation community, the event will help inform the policy and investment decisions that shape Europe's future in science, technology and innovation. Topics of this event include, amongst others, freedom of scientific research; removing regulatory barriers to business scaleup; implementing the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures; trust in science; alignment of public research policies; attractive research careers in Europe; the role of business angels in innovation financing.

The two opening addresses were given by Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva, and Enrico Letta, author of the Letta Report, Dean of the IE School of Politics, Economics, and Global Affairs at IE University, President of the Jacques Delors Institute and President of AREL.

Commissioner Zaharieva highlighted the following issues, amongst others, in her opening address:

• Fifth Freedom: Implementing the recommendations of the Letta Report and working on making the fifth freedom a reality should enable the free movement researchers and knowledge and avoid fragmentation. The ERA Act will contribute to this end, the freedom of scientific research will be enshrined in law.
• Strengthening European innovation and scale-up funding: The Scaleup Europe Fund should close existing funding gaps. Examples like Mistral and IQM show that Europe does not lack talent, but rather sutiable framework conditions and funding opportunities.
• The European Innovation Act (EIA) should address the demand side in particular, even though negotiations on the EIA are challenging.
• Ambitious budget for Horizon Europe (2028-2034): The Commissioner regrets the cuts to the amount of 10% proposed by the Council for the budget proposed by the EC, calling for a "robust R&I budget" and stressing that investment in R&I is not expenditure, but investment in Europe's future and competitiveness. Additional public and private investment at national level is also required. Horizon Europe needs to become less bureaucratic, faster and simpler.
• Europe as a location for talent and scientific freedom: If Europe does not sufficiently support its talents and technologies, these will go elsewhere, the Commissioner warned. Geopolitically Europe is "navigating stormy waters", making it all the more important that Europe remains a landmark for scientific freedom and autonomy of research institutions, and stating that the "values that drive us ... are not negotiable".
• International cooperation: The association of like-minded countries such as Canada, Japan, or South Korea to Horizon Europe shows that there is a common understanding of international research cooperation. The Commissioner also announced that the association agreement with Australia will be signed still this week.

Commissioner Zaharieva appealed to the European R&I Community to "be proactive, be bold, support each other!".

Enrico Letta addressed the following topics in his speech:

• Further developing the European Single Market: Mr Letta called this the most relevant point. The Single Market was created about 35 years ago, with two main objectives: more opportunities for the people, and a more prosperous EU. However, the changing geopolitical and economic framework conditions mean that this is not enough, and that Europe needs to strengthen its independence, sovereignty and resilience.
• Fifth Freedom: A fragmented Europe cannot reach its strategic goals, Mr. Letta claimed. The Fifth Freedom therefore has to become a European Flagship, the strategic framework and "brand" for European initiatives.
• Working together in Europe as condition for success: Mr Letta sees the necessity of convincing people of this joint European mission, a mission which can be achieved with R&I. If Europe stays fragmented, it leaves room and space for others. He stressed that Europe has the potential of combining freedom in general, scientific freedom and the ability to cooperate and called for the required political commitment.

The R&I Days can be followed online.

R&I Days - programme