Horizon Europe
Continuing with the policy to support innovation and research, the European Commission approved an earmarking of €100 billion for the 2021-2027 period to support and develop projects in this area.
Almost all the funds allocated will be assigned to Horizon Europe, a follow-on programme from Horizon 2020 which aims to consolidate its results and secure Europe a leading role in this major research and innovation field.
This is a long-term multi-year plan that will run from 2021 to 2027.
Objectives and resources
The proposed funding, which is intended to promote scientific excellence and secure the European Union a position at the forefront of market-creating innovation, will be divided as follows:
- €97.6 billion to Horizon Europe, including €3.5 billion to the InvestEU Fund;
- €2.4 billion to the Euratom research and training programme.
The programme is built on three pillars:
Open Science - €25.8 billion divided as follows:
- €16.6 billion for research projects established and managed by researchers through the European Research Council;
- €6.8 billion for student grants and exchange opportunities for researchers through Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions.
Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness - €52.7 billion
- To support research on social challenges, the development of technology, industry, and the activities of the Joint Research Centre.
Open Innovation - €13.5 billion divided as follows:
- €10 billion to the European Council for Innovation with the aim of making Europe a leader in innovation
- €3 billion to the European Institute of Innovation and Technology to promote integration between business, research, and education.
Features of Horizon Europe
Various innovations are envisaged in this project, including:
The creation of a European Innovation Council (EIC) with the task, among other things, of helping start-ups and highly innovative businesses to develop their ideas.
New goals that also affect aspects of people's daily lives, ranging from combating cancer to creating low-emission vehicles, or ridding the world's oceans of plastic.
Boosting innovation across the EU by doubling support for member States which are lagging behind in their efforts to harness their national research and innovation potential.
Greater communication between member states. The principle of “open science” will become the modus operandi for Horizon Europe, which will require free access to all publications and data
Greater coordination with other EU programmes.
Horizon Europe will promote effective and operational links with other future EU programmes, such as the cohesion policy, the European Defence Fund, and Digital Europe (€ 9.2 billion) which will also stimulate significant investments in intelligence artificial and cybersecurity.