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Research and innovation

About the Flagship

This flagship focuses on facilitating innovation through improved framework conditions including experimental approaches to regulation, through so-called regulatory sandboxes, as well as test beds, living labs and innovation procurement.

Guidance document on experimentation tools

Completed
Q2 2023

Initiation of preparations of the Guidance

Q3 2023

Publication of the Staff Working document

The Commission issued a staff working document in July 2023 that clarifies relevant use cases of regulatory sandboxes, test beds and living labs in order to support policymakers and innovators in their approach to experimentation in the EU. This document includes an overview of the main existing experimentation clauses and regulatory sandboxes in EU law.

Stimulating Experimentation Practices

Ongoing
8 June - 21 September 2023
Q1 2024

Announcement of results

June/July 2024

Signing of grant agreement with the beneficiaries

The Commission will support innovators through the European Innovation Ecosystems Work Programme relevant topic to identify areas and establish an experimentation space, such as regulatory sandboxes, living labs or test beds, which could facilitate the deployment of disruptive technologies.

Relevant links

European Innovation Ecosystems

Innovation-Friendly Regulations Advisory Group

Completed
2022

13 contracts signed

14 March 2023

First meeting of the expert group

After Q1 2023

4 meetings in total are expected

February 2024

IFRAG concluded its mandate

The Innovation-Friendly Regulations Advisory Group (IFRAG), composed of 11 experts, was appointed by the Commission at the end of 2022. Its role is to provide upstream policy advice on new technologies. It focused in 2023 on: (i) the use of emerging digital technologies in the public sector, and in particular virtual worlds, by looking at their implication for the EU regulatory landscape; and (ii) applications in areas such as citizens’ involvement in decision-making. The IFRAG concluded its mandate in February 2024 and will shortly publish its findings

Open innovation test bed in renewable Hydrogen

Ongoing
18 April 2023

Deadline for applications

End of 2023

Grant Agreement preparations concluded

The Commission will establish a new open innovation test bed in renewable hydrogen in 2023 under Horizon Europe to provide access to physical facilities, capabilities and services. As part of the open innovation test bed, the implementing parties will seek guidance on compliance with the European legal and regulatory frameworks and on increasing circularity by design (life cycle assessment), to support the development of a vibrant hydrogen economy across the entire value chain.

Relevant links

Horizon Europe: over EUR 960 million of funding available for research and innovation projects under Cluster 5

Revised State Aid Framework for Research and Development and Innovation (RDI)

Completed

The Commission also updated the new R&I&D Framework to reflect economic and technological developments further simplifying the rules applied by EU countries to implement RDI aimed at innovative solutions including in digital, health and carbon-neutral technologies that support the transition to a green and digital economy. 

Innovation Procurement Specialist Advisory Service

Ongoing
8 June - 21 September 2023
Q1 2024

Announcement of results

June/July 2024

Signing of grant agreement with the beneficiaries

The Commission will support the formation of an innovation procurement specialist advisory service through the relevant topic under the European Innovation Ecosystems Work Programme. This will act as an intermediary between public procurers and innovative suppliers. The call will open on 8th June 2023 with the deadline for applications on 21st September 2023.

EU wide benchmarking on innovation procurement

Ongoing
December 2022

Signing of the contract for the Innovation Procurement Observatory

23 March 2023

1st workshop that will present the objectives

Q1 2024

First deliverables of the benchmarking

The Commission will update its EU wide benchmarking of national policy frameworks and investments on innovation procurement in Europe. This includes both the investments in R&D procurement and the investments in public procurement of innovative solutions ((PPI procurement).

Relevant links

Benchmarking of innovation procurement investments and policy frameworks across Europe

GovTech

Completed
Q4 2022

Signature of the Framework Partnership Agreement (FPA)

Q2 2023

Signature of the first Specific Grant Agreement with the FPA consortium

6 July 2023

The GovTech Incubator kicks off

The Commission will create an Edge AI Testing and Experimentation Facilities (TEFs)  to develop AI prototypes using low-power computing technologies. The TEF will collaborate with other EU partnerships, provide testing facilities for SMEs, and focus on implementing AI components in connected autonomous objects.

Relevant links

Partnership for Realization and Validation of AI hardware Leadership

 

Member States and Associated Countries actions supporting the New European Innovation Agenda

At the Competitiveness Council in December 2022, following the adoption of Council Conclusions on New European Innovation Agenda (NEIA), the Commission launched a call to governments to announce actions in support of the NEIA. This announcement was based on the understanding that full support and engagement from the Member States and Associated Countries is needed to ensure the implementation of the NEIA. 

The actions were gathered through the EIC Forum, a group of Member States and Associated Countries' public authorities and bodies in charge of innovation policies and programmes, with the aim of promoting coordination and dialogue on the development of the Union's innovation ecosystem.