Philanthropy plays a crucial role in funding academic and applied research and innovation (R&I). Philanthropic foundations are widely recognised for their administrative flexibility, lighter reporting requirements, strong support across the entire lab-to-market pathway, and the agility and expertise they bring to project selection and monitoring. As the next Framework Programme for R&I takes shape, philanthropy is emerging as a key partner in helping the EU achieve its scientific and innovation objectives: this goes way beyond financial resources: to the contrary, it is about expertise, agility, and impact acceleration.
This study reviews past EU–philanthropy research collaborations and identifies the challenges that have limited their impact, drawing on desk research and semi-structured interviews. Key lessons and recommendations include: formalising EU–philanthropy cooperation; integrating a dedicated article into the FP10 regulation to enable Public–Philanthropic Co-Funding Partnerships; promoting joint and hybrid financing models; launching a dedicated ‘Philanthropy Co-Investment Fund’ or matching facility within (or even outside) Horizon Europe; expanding the Seal of Excellence mechanism; pursuing broader administrative simplification; and strengthening links between Horizon Europe and the forthcoming Global Europe Fund in the post-2028 budget cycle.
