Horizon Europe is the EU’s most ambitious R&I framework programme ever and the largest transnational programme of its kind worldwide. With a projected budget of EUR 95.5 billion to be distributed between 2021 and 2027, Horizon Europe is the EU’s main initiative aimed at supporting R&I, from initial conception to marketing, and complements national and regional funding.
This innovative programme provides new instruments, such as the European Innovation Council, Research Missions and Partnerships to boost the EU R&I landscape.
The launch event was held on 2 February by the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council in Lisbon with the participation of the European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel, members of European Parliament, European Ministers responsible for Research, leading European scientists and CEOs. Watch the recordings of the launch event:
Structure of Horizon Europe
The new framework programme for Research and Innovation is structured around three main pillars, as you can see in the below scheme:
Excellent Science
This pillar supports researchers through fellowships, exchanges, and funding the projects defined and driven by researchers themselves and it operates within European Research Council, Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and Research Infrastructures.
Global Challenges & Industrial Competitiveness
The second pillar fosters directly research related to societal challenges around issues that worry us daily, such as health, climate change, clean energy, mobility, security, digital, materials, etc. For that, the Joint Research Centre provides EU with independent scientific evidence and technical support. Within this pillar and throughout the programme as a whole the industrial leadership is supposed to get prominent.
Innovative Europe
Innovative Europe is a new pillar which aims to make Europe a front runner in market-creating innovation. A new funding body, the European Innovation Council offers a one-stop shop for high potential and breakthrough technologies and innovative companies. This pillar includes as well the activities of European Innovation Ecosystems and European Institute of Innovation and Technology.
Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area, the fourth component, support European Member States in developing their national research and innovation capacities. A special focus is put on encouraging countries that perform lower in research and innovation to succeed in Horizon Europe.
Missions in Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe will incorporate research and innovation missions to increase the effectiveness of funding by pursuing clearly defined targets.
What are EU missions?
EU missions are commitments to solve some of the greatest challenges facing our world like fighting cancer, adapting to climate change, protecting our oceans, living in greener cities and ensuring soil health and food.
They are an integral part of the Horizon Europe framework programme beginning in 2021.Each mission will operate as a portfolio of actions – such as research projects, policy measures or even legislative initiatives - to achieve a measurable goal that could not be achieved through individual actions.
EU missions will contribute to the goals of the European Green Deal, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan as well as the Sustainable Development Goals.
Mission areas
Five mission areas have been identified, each with a dedicated mission board and assembly. The board and assembly help specify, design and implement the specific missions which will launch under Horizon Europe in 2021:
For more information on Horizon Europe you can consult the below resources:
Horizon Europe, the EU research and innovation programme 2021-2027 general overview
Participation in Horizon Europe: keeping it simple