The Paris-Saclay Appeal “For a sovereign, free and competitive Europe through research and innovation” is an initiative of academic, research and industrial stakeholders that addresses governments of EU member states and European institutions in preparation for the future Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10).

The Paris-Saclay Appeal concentrates on the role of research and innovation as key pillars of European economic, technological and political sovereignty and European competitiveness. It is already accepted that European goals can be achieved by strengthening the European dimension in research and innovation, increasing investment in research, protecting academic freedom, promoting scientific and technological excellence, and deepening the link between fundamental research, applied research and innovation and their practical deployment. The Paris-Saclay Appeal proposes further actions and formulates them as necessities to achieve European goals. These include strengthening coordination of European and national research and innovation strategies, development of shared research infrastructures, support for university alliances, and formulation of conditions for more effective cooperation between the academic sector, research organisations and industry. 

The Slovak Rectors’ Conference (SRC) considers the Paris-Saclay Appeal as an opportunity to discuss the future of FP10. We support activities that focus on an increased EU budget for research and innovation, the development of large European research infrastructures, support for international cooperation and researcher mobility that can contribute to fostering the research capacity of Slovak universities, their involvement in strategic projects and the development of high-quality research, including medical, technological and interdisciplinary fields. Particular importance should be paid to the support of strategic technologies, biotechnologies, health research, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, and European research infrastructures, which are essential for the modernization of the scientific and innovation environment in Europe.

SRC as well underlines the need to ensure an inclusive European Research Area, which political and academic representatives in Europe have been striving for many years to eliminate the widening gap. Paris-Saclay Appeal focus on the concentration of excellence and the move beyond the so-called “fair national return” principle may lead to further concentration of research capacities in the most advanced European centres, deepen disparities between member states and weaken research systems in smaller countries. This can lead to limited access of smaller universities and research teams to large European projects, as well as the potential brain drain towards the most prominent scientific centres. 

SRC therefore considers as essential that the future FP10 and related European instruments include mechanisms supporting geographical balance, the development of research capacities in widening countries, and the systematic transfer of excellence between research institutions.

SRC agrees with the premises that research and innovation are key pillars of European competitiveness. We are persuaded that strengthening cooperation between centres of excellence and universities from all EU member states, support of university alliances, promotion of researcher mobility and creating conditions for the active participation of widening countries in strategic research and innovation projects are instruments necessary to achieve European competitiveness. SRC also recommends that new European initiatives, including clinical trial networks and large research infrastructures, systematically involve partners from across Europe and support knowledge transfer, capacity building and long-term cooperation. SRC also emphasizes that academic freedom and scientific independence remain fundamental values of the European Research Area and key prerequisites for its competitiveness and credibility.

Bratislava, 28 April 2026