Horizon Europe was launched on 1 January 2021. Horizon Europe is the European Union’s seven-year research and innovation programme, running from 2021 to 2027. The programme’s general objective is to deliver scientific, technological, economic and societal impact from the EU’s investments in R&I, to strengthen the scientific and technological bases of the EU, and foster its competitiveness in all Member States. With an agreed budget of €80.9 billion, Horizon Europe will be EU’s largest R&I framework programme.

Horizon Europe is built on three pillars (Factsheet Horizon Europe):

1. Excellent Science,
2. Global Challenges and European Industrial Competiveness,
3. Innovative Europe.

A fourth component on Widening participation and Strengthening the European Research Area will support EU Member States in their efforts to unlock their national research and innovation potential. It will furthermore help low R&I performing Member States to participate better in Horizon Europe.

Strategic Planning

With the agreement on Horizon Europe, the European Commission started a strategic planning process. The first multiannual Strategic Plan will be published by the end of 2020 to prepare the content in the work programmes and calls for proposal for the first 4 years of Horizon Europe. The strategic planning process focusses in particular on the Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness pillar of Horizon Europe. It will also cover the Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area part of the programme as well as relevant activities in other pillars.

What will be new in Horizon Europe?

Horizon Europe is following the mission-driven approach, which are linked to key societal challenges and relevant to a broad range of stakeholders as well as to citizens. The five mission areas are: adaptation to climate change including societal transformation, cancer, healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters, climate-neutral and smart cities and health soil and food. The European Innovation Council is another key novelty of Horizon Europe, aiming at bringing the most promising ideas and breakthrough innovations from lab to real-world application and support the most innovative start-ups and companies to scale up.

Information on Horizon Europe is available on the websites of the EC’s Funding & Tender Opportunities Portal.