The essential role of the RDI activities in sustaining economic performance and convergence represents a key statement of the revised Lisbon Strategy. These activities are financed and promoted at European level through large Community Programs and Initiatives. Romania’s active participation to these programs represents at the same time a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is generated by the need to reduce the gap with the developed countries of the EU. Some of the opportunities are: better turning to account of the Romanian scientific and technical potential, better integration into the European Research Area, and not least, more efficient absorp- tion of EU’s research funds The present paper is aimed to highlight ways to intensifying Romania’s participation to the Euro- pean Research Programs.