Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the 9th Framework Program of the European Union to support research and innovation. It runs from 2021 to 2027 and funds research projects and innovation pathways in various funding schemes aiming at a broad range of thematic fields and targeting different aspects of impact. The structure of Horizon Europe is based on three pillars:
Pillar 1 - Excellent Science
In a bottom up approach scientific excellence is fostered throughout Europe. The flagship for funding excellent research is the European Research Council (ERC). The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCAs) support the career path of young researchers and foster mobility and knowledge exchange between different disciplines, countries and sectors. The program Research Infrastructures allows researchers in Europe to build up or access high level infrastructure for research.
Pillar 2 - Global Challenges & European Industrial Competitiveness
In a top down approach, specific topics are published in biennial work programs (WPs) targeting various present-day global challenges. Consortia consisting of a minimum of three participants from three differing EU member states (MS) or Associated Countries (ACs) address these topics which are structured in the following six thematic clusters:
Health; Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society; Civil Security for Society; Digital, Industry and Space; Climate, Energy and Mobility; Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment
The WPs are rather long documents, however, all are starting with a list of the open topics which makes it easy to quickly identify calls of interest.
Pillar 3 - Innovative Europe
This pillar supports mainly applied research and development of new technologies. The European Innovation Council (EIC) covers the whole range of Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs) on the long way from first idea (Pathfinder) to the market (Accelerator).
Spanning and connecting all three pillars, the area “Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area” offers support to several cross-cutting issues. It aims at building and strengthening the networks of European Researchers (COST), support and integrate the “Widening Countries” (MSs and ACs that have so far been less successful in securing funding from the previous Framework Programs) and strengthening the European Research Area (ERA).
For further information, counselling and support please contact the Research Management and Service (contacts see above).
