Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the European multiannual program for research, development, and innovation, and runs from 2021-2027. The program is made up of a large number of sub-programs each with its own calls for proposals, conditions, and application deadlines. The Horizon Europe program comprises three pillars:

Pillar 1: Excellent Science

This pillar aims to keep or bring top level science in Europe. Actions from this pillar are intended to help make Europe an attractive location for the world’s best researchers. Europe wants to draw research talent, develop it and offer access to the best research infrastructures. Pillar 1 supports frontier research projects that researchers themselves define and direct through the European Research Council (ERC). In addition, this pillar funds fellowships and exchanges for researchers through Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and invests in research infrastructures.

Pillar 2: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

This pillar focuses on the major challenges facing the EU and the world as identified, among others, by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Because of the scope and complexity of these problems, collaboration between parties from different sectors is needed. This should lead not only to good health and well-being for all, a digital economy, solutions to climate change, transition to a circular economy and the food problem, but also to a strong European industrial sector and more employment. The challenges mentioned are formulated into six clusters:

1. Health
2. Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
3. Civil Security for Society
4. Digital, Industry and Space
5. Climate, Energy and Mobility
6. Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment.

Activities within pillar 2 contribute to bringing innovative technologies from lab to market and developing new applications. Applicants are often consortia of public and private parties, bringing together substantive and technological knowledge.

Also, this pillar sets EU-wide missions with ambitious goals, to address some of the EU’s biggest problems. These missions with some of its targets for 2030 are:

• Adapting to climate change, including societal transformation: preparing Europe to deal with climate disruption
• Cancer: more than three million lives saved, longer and better lives, gaining a thorough understanding of cancer
• Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters: cleaning up marine and freshwater, restoring degraded ecosystems and habitats
• Climate-neutral and smart cities: supporting 100 European cities and demonstrating a systematic transformation to climate neutrality by 2030
• Soil and food health: at least 75% of all soils in the EU are healthy for food, people, nature and climate.

Pillar 2 also includes Joint Research Centre activities. This research centre supports EU and national policy makers with independent scientific evidence and technical support.

Pillar 3: Innovative Europe

Through the initiatives in this pillar, the European Commission aims at identifying and supporting breakthrough technologies and game-changing innovations with the potential to scale up internationally and become market leaders. Innovation is stimulated to improve the EU’s competitiveness. This is done among other things through the European Innovation Council (EIC) and strengthening of the European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT). Within this pillar, various forms of funding can be combined such as grants and equity.

The Horizon Europe 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 companies. The EU sets the bar high, as only the most innovative projects receive funding. In addition, many ‘calls’ require the cooperation of at least three parties from three different countries.