The European Union has gradually been spending more and more taxpayers' money on science in the past decades--and less in areas such as agriculture. Between 2021 and 2027, its future "Horizon Europe" programme could fund €100 billion worth of research and innovation projects.

Why is that money important, and how far can it go? What kind of science will it fund? Why is this a big deal for countries outside of the European Union, too? How does the European Commission use scientific evidence to shape new laws?