“Together we are stronger and can do more for the future”. This is how Horizon Europe displays its ambition to improve the daily life of European citizens. Horizon Europe is the 9th Framework Program of the European Union for Research and Innovation. Launched in January 2021, it takes over from Horizon 2020.
With a budget of €95.5 billion for the period 2021 – 2027, which represents a 30% increase with the previous program, Horizon Europe is the most ambitious European program ever proposed.
Horizon Europe aims to shape a better future for all by strengthening the EU’s scientific and technological foundations, reinforcing the synergies of actors, the capacity for innovation and the competitiveness of Europe internally and on the international scene.
Research will focus on common issues such as food, air quality, ocean conditions, health, agriculture, transport, energy, smart cities and new approaches to European security.
This funding program is structured in four pillars:
Pillar 1 – “Excellent Science” which aims to encourage and support research via the European Research Council (ERC), to develop training networks through the development of research infrastructures, to strengthen skills and to support European scientific expertise by granting scholarships.
Pillar 2 – “Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness” to support collaborative projects in 6 identified areas:
– Health
– Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
– Civil Security for Society
– Digital, Industry and Space
– Climate, Energy and Mobility
– Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
Pillar 3 – “Innovative Europe”, which supports innovation through the creation of a European Innovation Council (EIC), as well as the networking and collaboration of key innovation players in Europe through the establishment of European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE)
Pillar 4 – , a cross-cutting pillar which aims to broaden the participation of stakeholders, the dissemination of their research and to encourage the emergence of new talents on the European territory.
With the aim of achieving the EU’s sustainable development policies and objectives, Horizon Europe is in line with the EU’s commitment to solving the global challenges raised by international bodies and which we are all facing.
Who can benefit from this programme?
“Investing in research and innovation is investing in the future of Europe”, according to Carlos Moedas, former European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science. It is with Research and Innovation as a central theme of the European post-Covid-19 relaunch that the European Commission intends to solicit the actors of the R&I field.
The objective here is to enable researchers and innovators to bring their projects to life, develop their knowledge and skills through mobility, work with sustainable research infrastructures and thus stimulate the creation of new markets.
The Horizon Europe program funds collaborative projects through a system of thematic calls for projects. They are available on the European Commission’s website.
How is the budget allocated?
The distribution of the global budget per pillar can be detailed as such:
– Pillar 1 – “Excellent Science” represents €25 billion.
– Pillar 2 – “Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness” represents €53.5 billion.
– Pillar 3 – “Innovative Europe” represents €13.6 billion.
– Pillar 4 – “Widening participation and strengthening the European research area” represent €3.4 billion
We hope that this article will help you understand the framework and provide all the key information on Horizon Europe, the 2021 – 2027 European Research & Innovation programme.
Get in touch with your National Contact Point for more detailed information on funding opportunities.
H2020 GALATEA Project is only the beginning!