Chair

In an evolving geopolitical and environment, international research and innovation cooperation must balance openness with increasing requirements related to research security, economic security and dual-use considerations. Ensuring that collaboration remains both effective and secure is essential to preserve trust among participants and to safeguard strategic interests.

Under its Chair, Belgium establishes “Empower Secure Collaboration” as a strategic priority, with the objective of reinforcing trust, coherence and risk-awareness across Eureka Network, while preserving its bottom-up and flexible nature.

Reinforcing trust-based cooperation

Eureka’s bottom-up model enables flexible, industry-driven collaboration across borders. The Belgian Chair aims to maintain this openness while strengthening a shared understanding of risks and responsibilities among participating countries and organisations.

Building on the work of the Working Group on Security and Dual-Use, established in November 2025, particular emphasis will be placed on:

• Promoting a common approach to research and economic security, while recognising national specificities
• Supporting the progressive adoption of common practices across Eureka programmes, when relevant
• Preserving an environment of trust for National Funding Bodies (NFBs) and beneficiaries

This approach seeks to ensure that collaboration remains open and efficient, while integrating proportionate safeguards.

Enhancing economic and research security

To strengthen the resilience of Eureka instruments, the Belgian Chair supports the implementation of risk-based checks and practices across programmes.

In line with the Working Group recommendations, this includes:

• The introduction of checks on proposals and projects related to Economic Security
• Measures to assess the risk profile of applicants and beneficiaries, including ownership structures, affiliations, and operational locations
• The development of guidance, training and knowledge-sharing activities to strengthen capacity across the Network

At the same time, the Working Group recognises that Research Security Frameworks remain shaped by national contexts and therefore supports maintaining sufficient flexibility for NFBs to apply their national standards while encouraging convergence through exchange of best practices.

Addressing dual-use in the Eureka context

Eureka has traditionally funded projects with exclusively civilian objectives.

There is increasing interest among Eureka members in exploring the possibility of supporting projects where civilian and military purposes coexist (“dual-use projects”), while keeping projects with an exclusively military focus outside Eureka’s scope.

Given the complexity of the topic, the Belgian Chair supports ongoing work within the Network to:

• Develop a common understanding of key concepts, such as “dual-use projects” and “dual-use calls”
• Explore and assess potential approaches for implementing dual-use actions, building on national experiences and European developments
• Identify possible rules, procedures and safeguards required for such actions

This work reflects the recognition that defining dual-use concepts and implementing related measures is not straightforward, and requires further exchanges, capacity building, and gradual alignment across members.

Strengthening capacity and coordination

The Belgian Chair places strong emphasis on capacity building and coordination across the Network to support the effective implementation of security-related measures.

Key actions include:

• Organising training sessions and workshops for NFBs, the Eureka Secretariat and Cluster offices
• Facilitating peer learning and exchange of best practices
• Supporting the development of common guidance and tools, where appropriate

Recognising differences in resources, legal frameworks and expertise across members, these actions aim to ensure a progressive and proportionate uptake of security practices throughout the Network.

Outlook

Belgium’s Chair invites all Eureka members to contribute to a trusted and resilient innovation ecosystem, where openness and security are mutually reinforcing.

By advancing work on research security, economic security and dual-use considerations, Eureka Network can further strengthen its position as a reliable platform for international cooperation, capable of adapting to new strategic and technological realities while preserving its core principles.