What is the Horizon Europe Program?
What is the Horizon Europe Program?Horizon Europe is the 9th consecutive framework program of the European Union (EU) for research and innovation for the period 2021 – 2027 and the successor of the 8th framework program Horizon 2020 (2014 – 2020). The total budget of the program amounts to 95.5 billion euros.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s largest framework program that aims to strengthen research and innovation as a means of tackling the effects of climate change, reversing the destruction of ecosystems, and transitioning to a more sustainable economy and society, digitally, circularly, climate neutral and inclusive. In addition, it contributes to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and enhances the EU’s competitiveness and growth.
The program facilitates cooperation and enhances the impact of research and innovation in the development, support and implementation of EU policies while addressing global challenges. It supports the creation and better dissemination of excellent knowledge and technologies.
Horizon Europe creates jobs, makes full use of the EU’s talent pool, stimulates economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness, and optimizes the impact of investments in a strengthened European Research Area (ERA).
Legal entities from the EU and associated countries can participate.
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New Elements in the Horizon Europe Program
The Horizon Europe program differs from the previous Horizon 2020 program in several ways. The most obvious changes are:
- European Innovation Council: Support for breakthrough and disruptive innovations with scaling potential that pose too much risk for private investors (70% of the budget earmarked for SMEs).
- EU missions: Interdisciplinary portfolio of actions to better connect the EU research and innovation sector with the needs of society and citizens – strong visibility and strong impact.
- New approach to European partnerships: New generation of targeted and more ambitious partnerships in support of agreed EU policy objectives.
- International collaboration: Tackling global societal challenges together; access to the world’s most valuable talent, expertise, and resources; enhanced supply and demand of innovative solutions.
- Open science: Integrating open science practices to improve the quality and efficiency of R&D and to actively engage society.
Objectives of Horizon Europe
1st objective – contributing to strengthening the EU’s science and technology base, reshaping the European Research Area and improving the EU’s capacity to innovate.
2nd objective – seeking to link research and innovation with six key European priorities, related to tackling climate change, the digital transformation of societies and the economy, the well-being and security of citizens, as well as the protection of European democracy.
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Horizon Europe legislation defines three types of impact:
Scientific impact:
- Production of high-quality new knowledge
- Strengthening human capital in Research and Innovation (R&D)
- Promotion of knowledge dissemination and open science
Social Impact:
- Addressing EU policy priorities and addressing global challenges through R&D
- Creating benefits and impact through R&D missions
- Strengthening the utilization of R&D in society
Economic impact:
- Creating growth based on innovation
- Creating more and better jobs
- Leveraging investments in R&D
Horizon Europe – Pillars
Pillar I: Science of Excellence
Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
Pillar III: Innovative Europe
Horizontal focus: Broadening participation and strengthening the European Research Area
Horizon Europe – Total Budget: €95.5 billion* (2021-2027)
*incl. €5.4 billion from Next Generation Europe (NGEU) the EU program for recovery from the COVID-19 crisis
PILLAR I – SCIENCE OF EXCELLENCE
Objective: to strengthen and expand the excellence of the scientific base of the Union
Total Budget: 25 billion euros
It includes three categories of actions:
European Research Council: funding cutting-edge research generated by the best researchers and their teams.
Budget: 16 billion euros
Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions: funding for researchers to acquire new knowledge and skills through mobility and training.
Budget: 6.6 billion euros
Research infrastructures: funding integrated and interconnected world-class research infrastructures.
Budget: 2.4 billion euros
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PILLAR II – GLOBAL CHALLENGES AND EUROPEAN INDUSTRIAL COMPETITIVENESS
Objective: to promote key technologies and solutions that support EU policies and sustainable development goals to address societal challenges (climate change, clean energy for health and digital technology)
Total Budget: 53.5 billion euros
It includes 6 thematic groups and the Joint Research Center:
- Health
Budget: €8.246 billion*
- Culture, creativity and inclusive societies
Budget: 2.280 billion euros
- Civil protection for society
Budget: 1.596 billion euros
- Digital technologies, industry and space
Budget: €15.349 billion*
- Climate, energy, and mobility
Budget: €15.123 billion*
- Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture, and environment
Budget: 8.952 billion euros
*incl. €1.35 billion from the NGEU.
Joint Research Center (JRC) – Non-nuclear direct actions: internal service of the European Commission that supports European policy-making by providing, both at European and national level, independent scientific evidence and technical support throughout the policy cycle.
- Budget: 1.970 billion euros
EU Missions
This pillar also sets out, through certain missions, a multidisciplinary portfolio of actions to achieve bold, inspiring and measurable goals that are a source of inspiration, within a defined time frame.
Objective: to better connect the EU research and innovation sector with the needs of society and citizens
5 main mission areas are included:
- Adaptation to climate change including social transformation: accelerating the transition to a climate resilient and just Europe.
- Cancer: fight cancer.
- Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters: restoring oceans and waters.
- Climate-neutral and smart cities: 100 climate-neutral cities.
- Soil health and food: caring for soils.
PILLAR III – INNOVATIVE EUROPE
Objective: to promote breakthrough innovations that create markets, and ecosystems that favor innovation
Total Budget: 13.6 billion euros
It includes the following:
- European Innovation Council (EIC): focus on market-creating innovation and SME development*
- European innovation ecosystems: connecting with regional and national innovation actors*
- European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT): bringing together the key actors (research, education, and business) around a common goal to promote innovation.
Budget: around 3 billion euros
*Budget: €10.6 billion, including up to €527 million for ecosystems (including parts of the NGEU – Recovery Fund specific to the EES).
HORIZONTAL FOCUS – WIDENING PARTICIPATION AND STRENGTHENING THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA
The horizontal set of interventions concerns the broadening of participation and the strengthening of the European Research Area by supporting the entire “Horizon Europe” program. These actions will strengthen efforts to put all parts of the EU on the map of research excellence and will especially help low-performing Member States in R&D to better participate in Horizon Europe.
Total Budget: 3.4 billion euros
It includes 2 components:
- Widening participation and spreading excellence
- Group cooperation, twinning, HEX seats
- European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)
- Promotion of activities of the national contact points, pre-proposal checks and advice.
- “Brain Circulation”
- Excellence initiatives
- Possibility of participation of entities from enlargement countries in already selected collaborative R&D actions.
- Recognition of participation
- Matching services
Budget: 2.96 billion euros
- Reform and improvement of the European R&D system
- Strengthening the evidence base for R&D policy.
- Support to the policymakers for the development of HEX.
- Support national R&D policy reforms, including the policy support mechanism.
- Attractive careers for researchers and links to higher education.
- Open science, citizen science and science communication.
- Gender equality.
- Ethics and integrity.
- Support for international cooperation.
- Scientific assistance to other policies.
- Support the implementation of the program.
- Support of national contact points.
- Support dissemination and exploitation.
Budget: 0.44 billion euros
Partnerships
The “Horizon Europe” program supports European partnerships, where the European Union together with public and private sector partners commit to jointly support the development and implementation of a program of research and innovation activities.
European partnerships are divided into three categories:
- Joint Programming Partnerships: implemented on the basis of memoranda of understanding / contractual arrangements; independent of partners and Horizon Europe
- Co-financed Partnerships: implemented based on a joint program agreed and carried out by the partners; commitment of partners for financial and in-kind contributions.
- Institutional Partnerships: these are research and innovation partnerships between the Union, EU Member States and/or industry. They are implemented since Articles 185/187 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and the legal acts of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) for the period 2021-2027.
There are 49 prospective European Horizon Europe partnerships covering Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness and Pillar III – Innovative Europe.
Euratom – Supplementary Program
The Euratom Research and Training Program (2021 – 2025) is a complementary funding program of Horizon Europe, which covers nuclear research and innovation.
Objective: research and training activities to reduce risks related to nuclear safety and protection, the development of safe nuclear technologies and best radiation protection methods.
Total Budget: 1.981 billion euros
The program includes three actions:
- Fusion
- Joint Research Center
- Split
Who can apply for Horizon Europe funding?
The program is open to all types of organizations from EU member states and associated countries. From start-ups, SMEs, universities, and research organizations to large corporations. The EU sets the bar high as only the most innovative projects receive funding. In addition, many “invitations” require the cooperation of at least three parties from three different countries.
hοrizon Europe deadlines
Deadlines in the Horizon Europe program differ between pillars and sub-programs.
How can QBC help you?
QBC Business Consultants have the expertise to guide you through your successful integration into Research – Innovate 2021-2027 interventions.
Our support will take place in 4 distinct phases.Phase 1 – Investment Plan Overview/Development and Evaluation
Phase 2 – Apply for the Research – Innovate 2021-2027 interventions
Phase 3 – Support during communications with stakeholders during the submission and evaluation of applications
Phase 4 – Support during the implementation of your investment plan
For more information on national and european subsidies and grants, you can contact us by phone at 216 900 7576 or submit a contact request and one of our Consultants will serve you immediately.
