Fair and Competitive Innovation Funding - a Ted Talk on the European innovation gap

Innovation spending in Europe remains highly uneven: in 2023, over 70% of EU research funding was absorbed by non-cohesion Member States. The imbalance of access to funding widens the innovation gap and limits the potential of innovators from CEE countries. Our talk highlights the crucial points to align with the New European Innovation Agenda, which calls for stronger cohesion in innovation ecosystems. Closing the gap is essential to help middle-income regions fully participate in the European knowledge economy. Better access to EU funding can drive this transformation. Addressing the innovation divide is not just fair - it is a strategic necessity for Europe's global competitiveness.