HORIZON EUROPE
Horizon Europe, the 9th European Framework Programme funding research and innovation, was launched on 2nd February 2021 with a budget of €95.5 billion to spend over a seven-year period (2021-2027).
The programme is structured in three pillars:
- Pillar I - Excellent Science: aims to increase the EU's global scientific competitiveness and it supports frontier research projects driven by top researchers through the European Research Council, funds fellowships through Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, and invests in world-class Research Infrastructures.
- Pillar II - Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness: supports research relating to societal challenges and reinforces technological and industrial capacities through six different clusters. It also includes the Joint Research Centre to support EU and national policymakers.
- Pillar III - Innovative Europe: aims to make Europe a frontrunner in market-creating innovation via the European Innovation Council. It also helps to develop the overall EU innovation landscape through the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.
Source: European Commission
What's new?
- The European Innovation Council supports breakthrough innovation as part of Pillar III.
- A new element is the five EU-wide research and innovation Mission Areas that deliver solutions to societal challenges: (1) Adaptation to climate change; (2) Cancer; (3) Oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters; (4) Climate-neutral and smart cities; (5) Soil health and food.
- European Partnerships will be streamlined and consolidated (private sector, foundations and other stakeholders), to deliver on global challenges and industrial modernisation. There are three types of partnerships: (1) Co-Programmed; (2) Co-Funded; (3) Institutionalised.
- Strengthening openness through an Open Science Policy.
- Simpler rules will increase legal certainty and reduce red tape for funding recipients and programme managers.
- Synergies across EU programmes to increase the R&I impact.
For further information, see the European Commission's page on Horizon Europe