Carsten Ovens, writing for Euronews, emphasizes that Israel must stay part of the European Research Area until at least 2034. He highlights the importance of the Horizon Europe programme, which is one of the EU's flagship efforts to unite top scientists, universities, and technology companies through collaborative innovation. The 95 billion Euro initiative is designed to fund projects based on scientific excellence and potential for innovation, rather than political dynamics or national affiliations.
The idea of excluding Israeli start-ups from the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator emerged in 2025. The EIC Accelerator supports cutting-edge tech like AI, cybersecurity, and drone technology. This move would not only have targeted a specific part of Horizon Europe but also marked a major shift. It would have broken a long-standing norm by barring a high-performing partner solely due to political tensions connected to the Gaza situation.
A Divided Council
The proposed exclusion of Israeli start-ups from the EIC Accelerator never gained the required qualified majority in the Council. Germany and Italy pushed for a more detailed review of the plan, while several Central and Eastern European nations outright rejected it. On the other side, countries like France, the Netherlands, and Spain argued that the proposal didn't go far enough in addressing concerns related to the Gaza conflict. Spain, together with Ireland, had already begun calling for a review of the EU-Israel Association Agreement in 2024.
By the summer of 2025, Spain intensified its stance, advocating for the full suspension of all EU-Israel research and innovation collaboration. This has not been implemented yet, but the idea remains a point of contention in EU policy discussions, especially during times of rising tensions in Gaza. The debate has also resurfaced during negotiations for the EU's next research funding framework, set to cover the period from 2028 to 2034. These talks will shape Europe's research and innovation strategy and determine the participation rules for third countries.
The Cost of Exclusion
Ovens warns that excluding Israel from Horizon Europe would have a measurable and damaging impact on scientific progress across Europe. Israeli partners are not simply receiving funding but actively contributing to multinational research teams. From 2021 to 2024, Israeli universities, research institutes, and businesses secured over one billion euros in funding from Horizon Europe. At the same time, Israel itself invested around 1.7 billion euros into the programme, making it a net contributor rather than a net beneficiary.
The exclusion of Israeli researchers and institutions would disrupt joint projects, causing research teams to lose access to essential technical expertise, intellectual property, and testing facilities. It would also limit access to Israel's well-known start-up ecosystem. In many cases, existing projects would need to be redesigned, work divided among fewer partners, or even abandoned entirely. Institutions located in cities like Hamburg, Paris, Barcelona, Leuven, and Warsaw could suffer financially as they absorb the added costs. Companies such as Renault, SAP, and Telefónica, which maintain research facilities in Israel, rely heavily on the country's innovation environment.
In 2024, the EIC Accelerator allocated over 100 million euros to Israeli deep-tech start-ups, making Israel the third-largest recipient after Germany and France. Israel's R&D budget is also far more ambitious compared to the EU average. The country spends more than six percent of its GDP on research and development—roughly three times the EU's spending rate. This level of investment has made Israel a global hub for innovation and a key partner for European firms.
Shared Research and Future Innovation
Israeli and European researchers collaborate on vital projects such as personalized cancer therapies, water-efficient agricultural methods, robotics, quantum technologies, and secure digital infrastructure. Institutions like the Technion, the Weizmann Institute, and the Hebrew University not only publish academic research but also generate patents, spin-offs, and market-ready products. These collaborations highlight the practical application of scientific work, which is often an area where Europe struggles to match its theoretical strengths with real-world outcomes.
Ovens concludes that excluding Israel from European research frameworks would worsen Europe's ongoing innovation challenges. As the EU begins shaping its next funding strategy for research through 2034, it must decide whether to continue this valuable collaboration or risk losing access to groundbreaking expertise. Maintaining the partnership is seen as crucial for ensuring Europe's long-term innovation and competitiveness on the global stage.