On 16 March 2021, the Commission (DG Home) and eu-LISA, (the European Union Agency for the Operational Management of Large-Scale IT Systems in the Area of Freedom, Security and Justice) agreed on “Terms of Reference” that will strengthen collaboration in the development of research and innovation of large-scale IT systems under the respective EU funding programmes. Eu-LISA will provide advice on research gaps, research activities, dissemination of solutions, testing research results, capability development, etc. within the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The Agency's input will ensure that research funded by the EU provides state-of-the-art technologies, solutions, and knowledge to eu-LISA and to Member States for the operational management of IT systems in the area of freedom, security and justice. This will help the Commission to better plan research funding in this area, and eu-LISA will be additionally enabled to better monitor relevant European research and innovation that fall within its remit. The EU will spend over €95 billion over the next seven years on research and innovation projects.