Policy brief on first CASRI results

Abstract

The Horizon Europe co-funded CASRI project strengthens the role of Environmental Protection Agencies (EPAs) and alike partners in the European Research Area by identifying and implementing shared priorities for environmental and sustainability research and innovation (R&I). This policy brief presents key first-phase results of CASRI’s first phase (Jan 2024–June 2025), CASRI provides a unique platform for bottom-up, co-designed agenda-setting by EPAs, European and national stakeholders—ensuring that environmental and sustainability research and innovation are grounded in real-world knowledge and implementation needs. Based on the synthesis of over 600 R&I proposals from 14 countries and regions and the outcomes of a major transnational workshop, CASRI identified eight thematic themes—including four cross-cutting challenges (security, democracy, competitiveness, and digitalisation) that demand attention. CASRI also proposes new collaboration models that address current weaknesses in long-term coordination, funding stability and science-policy-practice integration. This brief offers first recommendations to EU policy-makers and research programme designers to better embed EPAs into ERA, build lasting transnational R&I platforms, and reshape calls and funding tools to meet systemic sustainability challenges. The findings serve as a timely input to current debates on the future of Framework Programme 10 and ERA governance. Quelle: Bericht