It is the European research and innovation framework programme running from 2021-2027. With a budget of €95.5 billion, Horizon Europe is the European Union’s most ambitious research and innovation incentive program to date.
Through the implementation of Horizon Europe, the European Commission ambitions to maintain Europe at the forefront of research and innovation. Beyond this objective, it aims to continue the work carried out in the context of Horizon 2020 towards long-term scientific, economic and social impact of research and innovation.
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 facing global challenges. It supports creating and better dispersing of excellent knowledge and technologies.
Like its predecessor, the program will be structured around three pillars:
- Pillar 1, Scientific Excellence aiming at strengthening and developing the excellence of the European Union’s science base
- Pillar 2, Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness
- Pillar 3, Innovative Europe, aims at stimulating market breakthroughs and innovation-friendly ecosystems.
PILLAR 1:
ERC: Frontier research by the best researchers and their teams. Commission proposal €16.1billion
MSCA: Equipping researchers with new knowledge and skills through mobility and training. Commission proposal: €6.4billion
PILLAR 2 – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Pillar 2 (€53.8 Billion) consists of themes mainly implemented as collaborative and multidisciplinary projects, gathering participants from at least three member states or associated countries. It aims to improve key technologies and solutions that underpin EU policies and sustainable development goals. It is composed of 6 “clusters” responding to the strategies of the European Union:
- 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: stimulating market-creating breakthroughs and ecosystems conducive to innovation
EIC
The EIC represents the European Union’s most ambitious innovation support initiative, earmarking €10 billion between 2021 and 2027.
The overall objective of the EIC is to identify, develop and deploy high-risk innovations of all types, with a particular focus on breakthrough, market-creating, and deep-tech innovations. In this context, the EIC is also an initiative contributing to the European Union’s technological sovereignty.
- EIC PathFinder
EIC Pathfinder supports the early-stage development of future technologies based on high-risk/high-potential research from science to technological breakthroughs. It should lay the technology foundations to realize the ambitious vision of radically new technology with the potential to create new markets and/or address global challenges. Pathfinder funds projects of 3 to 4 million euros (100% grant) submitted by consortia of at least 3 entities from 3 different countries.
- EIC Transition
EIC Transition allows applying for up to EUR 2.5 million (100% grant) to validate and demonstrate the technology in an application-relevant environment and develop market readiness. Both individual applicants (SMEs, spin-offs, start-ups, research organizations, universities) and small consortia (two to five partners) are eligible.
- EIC Accelerator
The accelerator will support start-ups and SMEs developing high-risk, high impact innovation. In addition, from now on, midcaps and investors will be able to access the investment application.
EIT
Bringing key actors (research, education, and business) together around a common goal for nurturing innovation. The budget for this ecosystem is €3.1billions
Supporting the development of dynamic, long-term European partnerships among leading companies, research labs, and higher education. These partnerships are called EIT Knowledge and innovation Communities and each is dedicated to finding solutions to a specific global challenge, from climate change and sustainable energy to healthy living and food.
The LIFE program is the only EU program dedicated exclusively to the environment, nature conservation, and climate action. LIFE constitutes a 100% contribution to the objectives and targets of the European Green Pact.
During 1992-2020, LIFE has co-financed more than 4600 projects across the EU, with a total contribution of approximately 6.5 billion Euros to the protection of the environment and of climate.
For the next European Union budget in the period 2021-2027, the Commission has increased funding by almost 60% for the LIFE program to over ¤5.4 billion.
In general, the funding rate will reach 60% of eligible costs, rising to 95% for some types of projects, such as actions related to the Clean Energy Transition sub-program.
EUREKA Network is the world’s biggest public network for international cooperation in R&D and innovation.
Organizations and companies applying through Eureka programs can access funding and support from national and regional ministries or agencies for their international R&D projects.
As of March 2018, Eureka has 41 full members, including the European Union (represented by the European Commission), one partner country (South Korea), and four associated members (Argentina, Canada, Chile, South Africa) All 27 EU Member States are also members of Eureka.
EUREKA Mission is to stimulate Growth and Job creation in Europe
- By supporting the internationalisation of businesses with innovative ideas
- This mission is achieved through a well-established intergovernmental network of more than 40 Members
- Over 30 BILLION euros of public-private investment has been mobilized to support 5500 projects since 1985.
EUREKA supports projects which are:
- Transnational cooperation projects (At least two countries involved)
- Innovative projects (To produce a new product, process or services)
- Bottom-up projects (No Thematic Restrictions)
Market-oriented (Release the new product, process or services quickly on the market)
EUROSTARS
The EUROSTARS program is a joint EUREKA-EU funding and support programme for R&D-performing SMEs. Eurostars has been carefully developed to answer to the specific needs of the R&D-performing SMEs, and targets the development of new products and services, giving easier access to international markets, thanks to the transnational nature of each project consortium.
In a nutshell, Eurostars projects are:
- transnational,
- led by an SME,
- involving at least two partners from two different Eurostars participating country,
- involving at least one other partner from another Eurostars participating country, and
- lasting no longer than three years.
Last but not least, within two years of completion, the product of research should be ready for market introduction.
Innovation Fund is one of the world’s largest funding programs for innovative low-carbon technologies.
This Innovation Fund will have a budget of around €20 billion between 2020-2030. Primordially, the aim is to help companies invest in clean energy and industry to boost economic growth. Additionally, create future-proof local jobs and finally, strengthen Europe’s technological leadership on a global scale.
To do this, all is handled via calls for large and small-scale projects focusing on innovative low-carbon technologies, and processes in energy-intensive industries. Moreover, includes products that replace carbon-intensive ones, carbon capture, and utilization (CCU) construction, as well as operation of carbon capture and innovative renewable storage (CCS).
The European Commission has adopted the first Erasmus+ annual work program for 2021-2027. This new cycle will have a budget of €26.2 billion,
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Inclusive Erasmus+
Which will offer better opportunities for people with fewer opportunities due to cultural, social, or economic backgrounds. New features include individual exchange, classes for school pupils, and mobility for adult learners. It will also facilitate access to small organizations, youth associations, or sports clubs. It will also be a more international program to cooperate with third countries.
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Erasmus+ digital
Which will support the development of digital skills. It will offer high-quality digital training and exchanges and promote internships in the digital sector.
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Green Erasmus+
Which, through the Green Deal, will offer financial incentives to participants using sustainable modes of transport. It will also invest in projects to raise awareness of environmental issues and facilitate exchanges related to mitigating the climate crisis.
Digital Europe Programme is the first EU program that aims to accelerate the recovery and drive the digital transformation of Europe.
Worth €7.6 billion, the Programme will provide funding for projects in five crucial areas: supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills, and ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society.
The Programme is fine-tuned to fill the gap between the research of digital technologies and their deployment and to bring the results of research to the market – for the benefit of Europe’s citizens and businesses, and in particular SMEs.
It is EU’s response to COVID-19, which has had a major impact on medical and healthcare staff, patients and health systems in Europe. By investing €5.3 billion, therefore becoming the largest health programme ever in monetary terms, EU4Health will provide funding to EU countries, health organisations and NGOs.
