In response to current global trends, the EU should lead by example, promoting rules-based multilateralism, pursuing reciprocal openness in research and innovation cooperation to facilitate global responses to global challenges and exchanging best practices. It should support its objectives of open strategic autonomy by, in parallel, modulating its bilateral cooperation with non-EU countries in certain areas.

This global approach should be implemented through:

• Modulating EU bilateral cooperation in research and innovation to make it compatible with European interests and values and to strengthen the EU’s open strategic autonomy
• Mobilizing science, technology, and innovation to accelerate sustainable and inclusive development, and the transition to resilient, knowledge-based societies and economies in low and middle-income countries
• Initiatives modelled on a Team Europe approach, which combine actions by the EU, financial institutions, and Member States to maximize the effectiveness and impact of the actions.

It will also serve as a guide in implementing the international dimension of the new EU programme for civil research and innovation, Horizon Europe, and its synergies with other EU programmes.