The new EU program for Research & Innovation, 2021-2027
Horizon Europe is a 7-year scientific research initiative of the European Union, successor to the Horizon 2020 Program as well as previous Research & Technological Development Framework Programs.
Horizon Europe is expected to contribute decisively to strengthening the competitiveness of the European Union and its leading role in research and innovation.
- It aims to contribute to strengthening the EU's scientific and technological base, reforming the European Research Area (ERA) objective, and improving the EU's capacity to innovate.
- It aims to connect research and innovation with six key European priorities focused on addressing climate change, the digital transformation of societies and the economy, the well-being and security of citizens, and the protection of European democracy.
Four strategic orientations are defined for investments in research and innovation under the program:
- Promoting open strategic autonomy by taking a leading role in the development of key, digital, general-purpose, and emerging technologies, sectors, and value chains
- Restoring Europe's ecosystems and biodiversity and sustainably managing natural resources
- Transforming Europe into the first circular, climate-neutral, and sustainable economy based on digital technologies
- Creating a more resilient, open, and democratic European economy
The structure and new elements of Horizon Europe were based on the conclusions from the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020.
The new elements of the program primarily concern the establishment of the European Innovation Council, Missions and European R&I Partnerships, an enhanced package of measures to bridge the R&I performance gap (widening), and strengthening synergies with other Union programs and policies at programmatic and operational levels.
Horizon Europe is the largest framework program for supporting research and innovation, with EU funding of €95.5 billion for the seven-year period 2021-2027. The program aims to strengthen research and innovation as means to address the impacts of climate change, reverse ecosystem degradation, and transition to a digital, circular, climate-neutral, and inclusive economy and society.
The priorities set out in the Horizon Europe strategic plan are implemented through the work program, which defines funding opportunities for research and innovation activities through thematic calls for proposals and topics.
The first calls for proposals have already been published and are presented in a series of online events.
