Next research and innovation programme – Horizon Europe – was proposed by the European Commission. The programme is so far the most ambitious R&I programme. Horizon Europe will build on the achievements and success of the previous research and innovation programme – Horizon 2020 in which the Living Lab community was actively participating. The new programme will run from 2021 to 2027 with the aim to keep the EU at the forefront of global research and innovation.

What is Horizon Europe and what can you expect? 

“The planned programme is structured around three pillars: open science, global challenges and industrial competitiveness, and open innovation. The first pillar includes funding for fundamental research and grants for research mobility and infrastructure. The second pillar groups research into five clusters: health; inclusive and secure society; digital and industry; climate, energy and mobility; and food and natural resources. The third pillar is designed to enhance Europe’s innovation output.

 

There is also money set aside to strengthen Europe’s research base as a whole, including a doubling of funds designed to help Member States make the most of their national research and innovation potential, and by taking measures to reform and enhance the European research and innovation system”.

The new programme aims to be bridge the divide between the East and West, produce simpler and fewer partnerships, growing bigger and more competitive companies, enable foreign access of countries that are not EU members nor associated and finally to open the science and to respond to the need for greater outreach to citizens.

The EU Research and Innovation – Horizon Magazine sat down with Mr Carlos Moedas, European Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation to get his take on the new programme that will be instrumental in promoting Open Innovation – a cause that Mr Moedas has been working on, also with the help of advisors from the Open Science Policy Group, of which ENoLL President Tuija Hirvikoski is a member. In Mr Moedas’ view, Horizon Europe will connect the public to European Science.

When asked about the low success rates of H2020 project proposals and how Horizon Europe will tackle that, Mr Moedas responded:

‘I think there are two ways. One is that the programme increases in amount. So automatically you solve a little bit of the problem. (And the other) is the synergies between Horizon Europe and the structural funds. So, for instance, projects that are given what we call the seal of excellence, that are not able to be funded by Horizon because we don’t have enough money, they can go to the structural funds and they don’t need to have a new evaluation.’

Read the full interview with EU Commissioner 

What can ENoLL Members expect?

ENoLL Secretariat will be paying close attention to the Horizon Europe information days and Open Calls. All relevant information for members will be published in the members area.