swissuniversities, U15 Canada and the Russell Group have issued a joint open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding the upcoming EU research programmes. In a time of global uncertainty and rapid technological change, long-term and stable research programmes such as Horizon Europe have never been more important. A clear and early process for the association of non-EU countries and a renewed focus on basic research within the Horizon Europe programme are essential to successful international research cooperation.