Software is the foundation of Europe’s digital future. A new Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) sets out the research priorities and investments needed to strengthen this and advance Europe's digital and AI ambitions.
Developed by the European software community and coordinated by Informatics Europe and ERCIM, the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda for the Future of Software calls for software to be recognised and supported as a strategic European capability. It responds to a persistent investment gap in foundational software research and public software infrastructure, at a time when software underpins virtually every area of Europe’s digital transformation – from AI and healthcare to energy, mobility, public administration and critical infrastructure.
The SRIA translates this challenge into 20 concrete capability needs, structured around four strategic pillars: trustworthy, secure and compliant software systems; evolvable large-scale software systems; sovereign and resilient digital infrastructure; and human and organisational capabilities. These are considered across five perspectives spanning societal impact, sustainability, skills, governance and innovation.
Beyond setting research priorities, the agenda calls for coordinated European action. It proposes restoring clear institutional ownership of strategic software within the European Commission and establishing a sustained European programme bringing together the Commission, Member States, industry and the research community. The Agenda is now published on our Recommendations webpage.
SRIA Presentation in Brussels – 23 September
The SRIA will be officially presented on 23 September 2026 in Brussels, at an event bringing together prominent representatives from academia, industry, research organisations and policy. The programme reflects the breadth of the challenge, with perspectives from Informatics Europe and ERCIM alongside Siemens, Canon, Ericsson, Eiffel Software, Recognyze AI, Software Heritage, HiPEAC and the French General Secretariat for Investment (SGPI). Discussions will address software engineering capabilities, infrastructure, AI, industrial competitiveness and digital sovereignty.
The launch marks an important step in building a shared European agenda around a simple premise: Europe cannot achieve digital sovereignty, trustworthy AI or long-term technological competitiveness without mastering the software foundations on which they depend.
Join us in Brussels on 23 September — participation is free, but places are limited. Register now:
https://fd7.formdesk.com/openuniversiteit/sria
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