Horizon Europe

(2021-2027)

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The framework programme for research and innovation

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Horizon Europe is the EU’s key funding programme for research and innovation with a budget of €95.5 billion. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies.

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New elements in Horizon Europe

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• European Innovation Council: Support for innovations with potential breakthrough and disruptive nature with scale-up potential that may be too risky for private investors. This is 70% of the budget earmarked for SMEs.

• Missions: Sets of measures to achieve bold, inspirational and measurable goals within a set timeframe. There are 5 main mission areas as part of Horizon Europe.

• Open science policy: Mandatory open access to publications and open science principles are applied throughout the programme.

• New approach to partnerships: Objective-driven and more ambitious partnerships with industry in support of EU policy objectives.

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International cooperation

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International cooperation is a driver of world class research and innovation. The European Union’s Strategy for international cooperation is set out in the Global Approach to Research and Innovation Communication. 

 

Horizon Europe, the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation, is one of the main tools to implement this strategy. Horizon Europe offers opportunities to researchers and innovators from all over the world, albeit with the possibility of restrictions where necessary. Under Pillar I researchers can apply for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowships to come to work in European research groups or for European Research Council grants to establish a research group in Europe. They can be included as partners in research consortia submitting collaborative research proposals under Pillar II, and if they plan to establish a start-up or Small or Medium sized Enterprise in Europe, they can apply for funding from the European Innovation Council under Pillar III. 

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The EU engages in bilateral cooperation, through Science and Technology Agreements with countries around the world, as well as in Regional Dialogues to strengthen partnerships. Association to the framework programme enables countries outside the EU to pay into the Horizon Europe budget allowing their researchers to participate under similar conditions as EU Member State researchers. 

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We are working towards a common understanding and implementation of the fundamental principles and values underlying international research and innovation cooperation through a multilateral dialogue, and we are engaged in science diplomacy to address global challenges and promote understanding.

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