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Horizon 2020 promises a focus on benefits to the citizens

23/09/2024

The proposal for the new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020) due to start on 2014 was recently published by the European Commission and it will be the main instrument to achieve the ambitious goals set out in the EU 2020 strategy to enhance economic growth and competitiveness in the European Union.

The proposal for the new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020) due to start on 2014 was recently published by the European Commission and it will be the main instrument to achieve the ambitious goals set out in the EU 2020 strategy to enhance economic growth and competitiveness in the European Union.

The proposal foresees a budget of 87,7 billion euros from 2014 to 2020, over 45% increase of its predecessor FP7. However the scope of the programme is wider in scope, encompassing previously separate funding instruments such as the relevant parts of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), at the mean time simplifying the structure and rules.

Horizon 2020 would be divided in three main parts (all within a single Specific Programme (SP) and with single set of rules) of Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership and Societal Challenges.

 

Excellent Science (27.8 billion euros)

  • Focus on curiosity-driven research, bottom up research projects (such as the ERC) including synergy grants
  • Actions to support excellent research infrastructures
  • Future and emerging technologies (FET) enlarged scope to cover all areas

 

Industrial Leadership (20.2 billion euros)

  • Focus on developing technologies that support European industries and R&D
  • Facilitate SME R&D activities
  • Connecting research results to market with a number of different funding and financial instrument

 

Societal Challenges (35.9 billion euros)

  • Focus on benefits to the citizens
  • Health, wellbeing and demographic change
  • Food security, sustainable agriculture and bio-economy
  • Secure, clean and efficient energy
  • Smart, green and integrated transport
  • Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials
  • Inclusive, innovative and secure societies

 

Horizon 2020 will also include cross cutting activities in order to ensure synergies between the three main parts. These actions should include the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies, bridging the gap form discovery to market, cross-disciplinary research and innovation, cooperation with third world countries and support for mobility of researchers.

EIT will become a part of the Horizon 2020 and it will have a larger budget to implement up to six new additional KICs (Knowledge and Innovation Communities). The budget allocated to EIT is 3.2 billion euros.

The legislative proposal will be presented to the public on December 5th at the First European Innovation Convention and finally to the Competitiveness Council of the EU member states after which it will follow the normal procedure of adoption in the Council, European Parliament and will be negotiated, especially its proposed budget will be under though negotiations through the year 2012.

See more on the Horizon 2020 portal.

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