Scroll Top
EU flag

WHAT IS HORIZON EUROPE?

Horizon Europe#HorizonEU – is the European Union’s flagship Research and Innovation programme, part of the EU-long-term Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) with a budget of €95,5bn (including €75,9bn from the MFF and €5bn from the Next Generation Europe) to spend over a seven-year period (2021-2027).

Horizon Europe Cluster 2, 4, 5, 6 Info days announced!

Europe is shaping competitive and trusted technologies for a European industry with global leadership in key areas, enabling production and consumption to respect the boundaries of our planet, and maximising the benefits for all parts of society in the variety of social, economic and territorial contexts in Europe.
TECHNOLOGICAL SOVEREIGNTY

To strengthen European scientific and technological bases and the European Research Area

EUROPEAN COMPETITIVENESS

To boost Europe’s innovation capacity, competitiveness and jobs and ensure European technological sovereignty

SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

To deliver on citizens’ priorities and sustain our socio-economic model and values

EU’s next MFF budget and Next Generation Europe

Key Facts & Figures

Long-term budget for 2021-2027 of €1.074 trillion combined with the temporary recovery instrument, NextGenerationEU, of €750 billion.

More than 50% of the budget supports modernisation through policies that include:

  • Research and Innovation, via Horizon Europe.
  • Fair climate and digital transitions, via the Just Transition Fund and the Digital Europe programme.
  • Preparedness, recovery and resilience, via the Recovery and Resilience Facility and a new Health Programme, EU4Health.

Traditional policies such as the cohesion and common agricultural policy will be modernised and receive a significant EU budget to support the green and digital transitions.

30% of EU funding, under both NextGenerationEU and MFF, will be dedicated to fight climate change. The package also gives specific attention to biodiversity protection and gender mainstreaming.

Next Generation Europe

RECOVERY INSTRUMENT

Digital Europe Programme

DEPLOYMENT & ADOPTION

Connecting European Facilities 2

INFRASTRUCTURE

When you put NextGenerationEU on top, we now have a massive and unprecedented financial firepower. EUR 1.8 trillion. That is almost 13% of our EU27 GNI. And MFF and NextGenerationEU together will increase the percentage of modern policies to over 50%. Just look around the world to see who else can say the same as us. We now have the opportunity to achieve something historic for Europe together. The pressure of the crisis has opened doors that for a very long time were locked shut. As sad as the occasion may be, it is also a new opportunity for Europe, for our community.

Ursula von der Leyen
President of the European Commission

Zooming into Horizon Europe

Investments in research and innovation ensure
a sustainable and inclusive future

Investments in research and innovation ensure a sustainable and inclusive future

The next EU Research and Innovation Programme drives the systemic changes needed to ensure a green, healthy and resilient Europe.

What are its main objectives?

Accelerate the green and digital ‘twin transition’
Strengthen resilience and crisis preparedness
Support Europe’s global competitiveness

Europe must invest in research and innovation
to maintain its scientific
and technological leadership

Europe must invest in research and innovation to maintain its scientific and technological leadership

2/3 of EU productivity growth over the last decades has been driven by R&I investments

up to €11 of GDP gains over 25 years can be potentially generated by each euro invested at EU level in R&I

€400-600 billion by 2030 is the estimated GDP gain from Horizon 2020

2/3 of EU productivity growth over the last decades has been driven by R&I investments

up to €11 of GDP gains over 25 years can be potentially generated by each euro invested at EU level in R&I

€400-600 billion by 2030 is the estimated GDP gain from Horizon 2020

What’s its structure?

HorizonEurope - Pillars
PILLAR 1

The Excellent Science Pillar aims to increase the EU’s global scientific competitiveness. It supports frontier research projects driven by top researchers through the European Research Council, funds fellowships for experienced researchers, doctoral training networks and exchanges through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, and invests in world-class research infrastructures.

PILLAR 2

The Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness Pillar supports research relating to societal challenges and reinforces technological and industrial capacities through clusters. It sets ambitious goals for EU missions. It also includes the Joint Research Centre which supports EU and national policymakers with independent scientific evidence and technical support.

PILLAR 3

The Innovative Europe Pillar 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 which fosters integration of the knowledge triangle of education, research and innovation.

HORIZONTAL PILLAR

Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (ERA) by increasing support to the EU Member States in their efforts to make the most of their national research and innovation potential, fostering closer collaborations and spreading excellence.

FIRST REPORT ON THE PERFORMANCE OF EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIPS UNDER HORIZON EUROPE

The report provides an overview of the new Partnership landscape under Horizon Europe and establishes the basis for assessing their progress in future reports.

Novelties to advance progress

Support breakthrough innovation > European Innovation Council
Deliver solutions to societal challenges together > EU missions
Rationalise the funding landscape > Dedicated EU Partnerships
Strengthen international cooperation > extended association possibilities
Reinforce openness > Open Science policy
Encourage participation and decrease R&I gap in EU > widen participation
Increase the R&I impact > synergies across EU programmes
Reduce administrative burden > simpler rules

Budget and Timeline

Horizon Europe has a budget of around €95.5 billion for 2021-2027. This includes €5.4 billion from NextGenerationEU to boost our recovery and make the EU more resilient for the future, as well as an additional reinforcement of €4.5 billion.
Horizon Europe is also implemented through the European Defence Fund and complemented by the Euratom Research and Training Programme.

Enhanced Impact

Horizon Europe aims to boost growth, trade and investment and to create a significant social and environmental impact.
Up to 11 of GDP gains over 25 years to be generated by each € invested in R&I
Over 35% of Horizon Europe budget to climate objectives
To create 300.000 jobs by 2040, of which 40% are highly skilled jobs

WHAT ARE THE NEXT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES?

Where can I find more about upcoming EC Calls?
You can find more information on the EC Portal or you can contact us directly!

What’s new in comparison to H2020?

Both Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 consist of three pillars, as well as horizontal actions.
H2020 vs Horizon Europe
1
Changes to Pillar 1: Excellent Science vs Open Science.

‘Future and Emerging Technologies’ (FET) has been removed from this pillar and spread out across the other two. FET Flagship actions have evolved into the Mission actions in Pillar 2, whilst the remaining FET actions moved to Pillar 3, with a focus on market-making breakthrough/disruptive innovation.

2
Changes to Pillar 2: Societal vs Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness.

The main difference here is the addition of so-called Missions that are similar to H2020 FET flagship projects, but with set challenges aiming to boldly impact society and policy-making for a significant part of Europe.

3
Changes to Pillar 3: Industrial Leadership vs Open Innovation.

Where the focus is on stimulating and supporting market-creating breakthrough innovations. The three main components are:

  • The European Innovation Council (EIC) which supports breakthrough innovations, with either ‘Pathfinder’ grants (for early tech) or ‘Accelerator’ funding (for pre-commercial work).
  • The European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) which focuses on developing networks of interactions between innovators.
  • The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) which brings key research, education, and business actors together around a common goal.
4
Changes to the horizontal pillar: several planned actions.

Which support these three Pillars, to widen participation and reform/enhance the current systems, include:

  • More participation from non-EU countries with good capacity in science, technology, and innovation.
  • An update to partnership approaches, consolidating them into three possible forms: Co-programmed, Co-funded and Institutionalised.
  • It’s mandatory that publications and data produced through the programme are open access.
EU flag

European Innovation Council

The EIC aims to identify and support breakthrough technologies and game changing innovations to create new markets and scale up internationally.

The EIC is a key novelty of Horizon Europe and represents the most ambitious innovation initiative that Europe has taken, with a budget of €10 billion for the period 2021-2027 and funding opportunities worth more than €1.5 billion in 2021 only!

EIC Pathfinder

Support to research teams to research or develop an emerging breakthrough technology

EIC Transition

Mature a novel technology and develop a business case to bring it to market

EIC Accelerator

Funding and investments through the EIC Fund for individual start-ups and small companies to develop and scale-up game-changing innovations

EIC Business Acceleration Services

All EIC supported projects and companies get access to coaching, mentoring, partnering and other EIC Business Acceleration Services

European Innovation Ecosystems

Specific support to enable innovation ecosystem actors to work together across Europe

EIC Prizes

Take the challenge and compete for an EIC Prize which rewards Europe’s leading innovators

Horizon Europe – Mission Areas

European research and innovation missions aim to deliver solutions to some of the greatest challenges facing our world.
Missions are:
  • be bold, inspirational and widely relevant to society
  • be clearly framed: targeted, measurable and time-bound
  • establish impact-driven but realistic goals
  • mobilise resources
  • link activities across different disciplines and types of research and innovation
  • drive a systemic change and transform landscapes rather than fix problems in existing ones
The areas covered by the mission are:
  • Cancer
  • Adaptation to climate change including societal transformation
  • Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters
  • Climate-neutral and smart cities
  • Soil health and food

Partnerships in Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe supports European partnerships with EU countries, the private sector, foundations and other stakeholders. The aim is to deliver on global challenges and industrial modernisation through concerted research and innovation efforts. There are three types of partnerships:
Co-programmed European Partnerships.

These are partnerships between the Commission and private and/or public partners. They are based on memoranda of understanding and/or contractual arrangements.

Co-funded European Partnerships.

Co-funded European Partnerships using a programme co-fund action. Partnerships involving EU countries, with research funders and other public authorities at the core of the consortium.

Institutionalised European Partnerships.

Institutionalised European Partnerships where the EU participates in research and innovation funding programmes undertaken by EU countries. These partnerships require legislative proposals from the EC and are based on a Council Regulation or a Decision by the EU Parliament and Council.

The European Commission and the industry announced investments for €22 billion in European Partnerships to deliver solutions to major societal challenges.

Newsletter

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Subscribe our newsletter and stay up-to-date!

How do I apply?

Work programmes announce the specific research and innovation areas that are funded. The forthcoming Calls For Proposals are accessible through the one-stop-shop Funding and Tenders Portal.
When published, each Call gives more precise information on the research and innovation issues that applicants for funding should address in their proposals.
There are several open Horizon Europe Calls and many that will be published soon.
Stay tuned on our channels to find out more or drop us an email!

OUR TIPS & TRICKS

– STAY FOCUSSED –
Target the right call with the right partners.

STRIVE FOR
EXCELLENCE

Focus exclusively on the Calls where you can make a difference with your specific know-how, expertise, team skills, research and innovation.

SHOOT
FOR IMPACT

Target measurable results in terms of business results, innovation performances and disruptive technology solutions.

MANAGE THE PROCESS

Make sure you can master all the dynamics and the administrative processes of Horizon Europe and of specific Calls.

CHOOSE STAR PARTNERS

Only a strong consortium composed of select partners can deliver excellence and impact on time and on budget.

Based on more than 25 years of experience in EC funding with an average 30% success rate in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, our expert team can support you in your Horizon Europe journey.

Help identify the right call
Help identify the best partners
Help develop your ideas
Help coordinate the proposal writing process
Help take care of administrative and financial aspects
Provide dedicated training on various aspects of EC funding rules
Help identify the right call
Help identify the best partners
Help develop your ideas
Help coordinate the proposal writing process
Help take care of administrative and financial aspects
Provide dedicated training on various aspects of EC funding rules

MAIN HIGHLIGHTS

Next Generation
Europe

NextGenerationEU is a €750 billion temporary recovery instrument to raise funds on the capital market. It helps repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic. The ambition is to ensure that post-COVID-19 Europe will be greener, more digital, more resilient and fit for current and forthcoming challenges.

Digital
Europe Programme

As part of the MFF 2021-2027, this programme is focused on building the strategic digital capacities of the EU and on facilitating the wide deployment of digital technologies across the economy and society. With a planned overall budget of €8.2 billion, it boosts investments in supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills.

Connecting European Facilities 2

As part of the MFF 2021-2027, the EC proposed a total budget of €31.7 billion to support infrastructure projects connecting regions within the EU (the trans-European networks). CEF 2 seeks to better integrate transport, energy and digital sectors, and help achieve EU climate objectives, while supporting jobs, economic growth and the deployment of new technologies.

Next Generation Europe

NextGenerationEU is a €750 billion temporary recovery instrument to raise funds on the capital market. It will help repair the immediate economic and social damage brought about by the Coronavirus pandemic. The ambition is to ensure that post-COVID-19 Europe will be greener, more digital, more resilient and fit for current and forthcoming challenges.

Digital Europe Programme

As part of the MFF 2021-2027, this programme is focused on building the strategic digital capacities of the EU and on facilitating the wide deployment of digital technologies across the economy and society. With a planned overall budget of €8.2 billion, it will boost investments in supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and advanced digital skills.

Connecting European Facilities 2

As part of the MFF 2021-2027, the EC proposed a total budget of €31.7 billion to support infrastructure projects connecting regions within the EU (the trans-European networks). CEF 2 seeks to better integrate transport, energy and digital sectors, and help achieve EU climate objectives, while supporting jobs, economic growth and the deployment of new technologies.

Investments in research and innovation improve Europeans’ quality of life. Research and innovation accelerate the green and digital transformations that our planet needs, but also increase the competitiveness of our economies. The EU and Member States need to allocate enough resources in science, research and innovation to shape the future we want.

Mariya Gabriel
EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth

HORIZON EUROPE
© Copyright 2023 | Martel Innovate
HORIZON EUROPE
© Copyright 2023 | Martel Innovate