26 May 2026
STOA publishes study on 'Widening' indicator
On 22 May 2026, STOA, the European Parliament's Panel for the Future of Science and Technology, presented a study by the European Parliamentary Research Service on the ''Widening' indicator: Leveraging the potential for inclusive European research and innovation'.
The EU's Horizon Europe framework programme promotes European innovation. The current Horizon Europe programme uses 'Widening' measures to target Member States, support their capacity to innovate, close gaps between EU countries and move towards performance convergence. This study provides a framework and associated indicator options for establishing a systemic 'Widening 2.0' methodology which could prove instrumental in discussing post-Horizon Europe 'widening' support measures. It is based on assessment of research and innovation indicators of targeted 'widening' countries, looking at the economic and research impact that Horizon Europe may have had between 2018 and 2025.