Scientific research and development expenditure in Latvia has significantly increased over the past ten years, yet remains relatively limited compared to other nations.
The European Commission has announced a strategic plan to accelerate and transform the tech revolution by increasing research spending and focusing on strategic priorities. The total government budget allocations for research and development (GBARD) across the EU amounted to €123 557 million in 2023, representing 0.72% of the EU's GDP.
The plan involves establishing the Horizon Europe 10th Framework Programme with increased funding and streamlined administration to better support research and innovation. The programme, which will enter its tenth framework phase, is designed as a key instrument for delivering the Commission’s policy ambitions for 2024-2029, emphasizing simplification, flexibility, faster strategic spending, and stronger support for innovation aligned with green and digital transitions.
Key elements of the plans for increasing R&D spending include aligning funding with major challenges such as climate change, technological disruption, and demographic shifts, thereby underpinning Europe's competitiveness, resilience, and unity. The Commission also aims to promote EU-wide collaboration to maximize the impact of investments and address global societal challenges collectively.
Boosting investments in breakthrough innovation, green and digital transformation, and support for startups and scale-ups through improved frameworks is another priority. The Commission’s strategic priorities for 2024-2029 are reflected in these efforts.
Growth in government R&D budget allocations is evidenced by recent data showing a 57% increase in EU-level R&D government budget allocations per person between 2014 and 2024. This growth demonstrates the political will to support higher research investment levels.
The document titled "Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029" emphasizes the central role of research and development (R&D) in the European economy. The guidelines prioritize significantly increasing R&D spending in the EU by focusing on the Horizon Europe program.
Notably, some EU countries have higher R&D budget allocations per person than others. For instance, Luxembourg has the highest at €765.3, followed by Denmark with €552.4 and Germany with €522.6. On the other hand, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Romania have the lowest R&D budget allocations per person, with Hungary at €64.1, Bulgaria at €33.1, and Romania at €25.9.
Despite these disparities, there have been significant increases in R&D spending in some countries, such as Latvia, where the GBARD increased from €32 million in 2013 to €118 million in 2023, and R&D spending as a percentage of GDP increased from 0.15% to 0.30%.
The Commission also emphasizes openness and international cooperation in R&D partnerships, aligned with sustainable development goals, to reinforce EU’s global leadership in research and innovation. This approach underscores the Commission's goal of making Europe a leader in the cutting edge of science, technology, and industry.
[1] European Commission. (2023). Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/publications/political-guidelines-next-european-commission-2024-2029_en
[2] European Commission. (2023). Horizon Europe. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/horizon-europe_en
[3] European Commission. (2023). Horizon Europe - Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved from https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/horizon-europe/horizon-europe-frequently-asked-questions_en
- The European Commission, in its Political Guidelines for the next European Commission 2024-2029, highlights the significance of research and development (R&D) in shaping the EU's economy, with a focus on increasing R&D spending through the Horizon Europe program.
- In an effort to streamline administration and support innovation, the Horizon Europe 10th Framework Programme, a key instrument for delivering the Commission’s policy ambitions for 2024-2029, is designed to prioritize simplification, flexibility, faster strategic spending, and stronger support for innovation aligned with green and digital transitions.
- Recognizing the strategic role of technology and education-and-self-development in the EU's future, the Commission aims to promote EU-wide collaboration and openness in R&D partnerships, aligning with sustainable development goals and the media's role in disseminating information about these transformative changes.
