Countries question Commission on quantum and space exclusions

Representatives of 19 nations ask why long-term EU R&D collaborators might be barred from calls

Representatives of 19 European governments have asked the European Commission to give a more detailed rationale for why certain calls in the 2021-27 EU R&D programme could be barred to the participation of some non-EU countries that have been long-standing R&D collaborators with the bloc, Research Professional News understands.

The request for information on the potential exclusions came during a meeting of a planning committee for the Horizon Europe programme last week, according to two sources familiar with the talks who spoke on condition of anonymity. The push for detail has the support of the majority of the committee, which is responsible for shaping and approving a funding ‘cluster’ on digital, industry and space R&D.