Small states performance in EU research funding programmes : a Maltese perspective

Abstract

Over 20 000 000 European citizens inhabit approximately 2,400 islands which pertain to the thirteen member states of the European Union. Three member states are also islands, yet there are still doubts whether the European Union addresses small island states’ specific challenges appropriately in its policy. The report on EU islands and cohesion policy (2022) calls for a proper strategy for islands where their strengths can be properly exploited through robust research, innovation policies and initiatives that foster collaboration among local researchers and innovators whilst promoting a larger uptake of research facilities in insular territories. Whilst acknowledging the importance of Research and Innovation, the report highlights that EU policies do not always take into account the specific characteristics of islands, and their needs are underrepresented in EU legislation. This is further exacerbating island vulnerabilities. It is already acknowledged that islands and small states issues are underrepresented in EU policies and legislation, however it is still unknown if these very same issues are also not present in the EU’s Research and Innovation funding programmes. The Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (2014-2020) and the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (2021-2027) are the biggest EU Funding Programmes that support Research and Innovation. This research project analyses the performance of islands and small states. Mainly, the performance of four of the smallest European Member States; Malta, Estonia, Cyprus and Luxembourg in the last two years of Horizon 2020 and the first year of Horizon Europe. Malta’s performance in the EU Research and Innovation funding programmes is analysed vis-à-vis the performance of Estonia, Cyprus and Luxembourg. Small states face several challenges and vulnerabilities, ranging from small domestic market issues, limited natural resources, climate change vulnerabilities, environment vulnerabilities, small population and limited human resources, difficulties in attracting research talent, low representation in decision making institutions, health issues as a result of climate change, lack of green spaces to lack of infrastructure and more. It is because of these vulnerabilities that this research will also examine if small states issues are well mentioned in European Research and Innovation Funding Programmes, and if they are mentioned, to what extent they are being considered. Mixed methods will be used to investigate the performance of EU islands and small states in EU research funding programmes, Malta’s success in these funding programmes vis-à-vis the success of Estonia, Cyprus and Luxembourg and how islands and small states issues are represented (if represented) in the Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe calls for proposals. Content analysis, descriptive statistics and correlation analysis is the research approach used to answer the research questions. This research finds that EU research and innovation funding programmes send mixed results in terms of accounting for issues pertaining to small states, especially for the calls that were issued in 2021 (Horizon Europe).