The European Union's support policy for research and technological development (R&D) targets numerous actors and projects. All programmes aim to create transnational synergies, strengthen European competitiveness at international level and foster social and economic progress in all Member States.

 The different programme target a diverse range of actors: research organisations, individual researchers, companies, management authorities, etc. They cover numerous topics and offer different support measures (financial aid, attribution of a label, support for mobility or advanced training, etc).

 Luxembourg participates and has chosen to promote actively the following European funding programmes:

With a budget of €50 billion for a period of 7 years (2007-2013), the 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) is the European Union's (EU) main financial instrument for supporting research. The programme targets challenges that cannot be addressed on national level only. Its sub-programmes pursue diverse objectives and respond to annually defined strategic priorities. Their overall aim is to promote transnational cooperation in order to strengthen Europe's potential in a number of research areas that have priority for the European Union. In January 2014, FP7 will be replaced by a new framework programme, Horizon 2020.

The Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) is designed to promote competitiveness and support the innovation capacities of European companies. The programme is particularly interesting for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

With its 20 members and independently of the EU, the European Space Agency (ESA) elaborates the European space programme and coordinates it with national programmes. Its activities cover the complete space field and are financed by its Member States.

The European intergovernmental initiative EUREKA targets in particular companies that develop new products that are close to the market.

The European programme Eurostars, which is a collaboration between FP7 and EUREKA, supports R&D projects which are led by SMEs and conducted in transnational cooperation within any technology field.

The intergovernmental network COST encourages cooperation between researchers in Europe while creating links between the European and the global scientific communities.  COST is a flexible platform rather than a funding programme, and allows European researchers to define together research priorities for the future. 

The objective of the joint research programme Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) is to enhance the quality of life of older people through the use of information and communication technologies.

The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is a European structural fund that aims to correct regional inequalities. It targets all types of infrastructure and provides grants for projects aiming to stimulate convergence, jobs and European territorial cooperation.

Support measure for company participation in European programmes

The measure Fit4Europe of the Ministry of the Economy and Foreign Trade supports the preparation of a European research project by a business located in Luxembourg. The programme helps covering the costs related to the drafting of the project proposal.