As part of the next long-term EU budget 2028-2034, the Commission is proposing to double the budget of the Research and Innovation framework programme to €175 billion. The new Horizon Europe will boost Europe’s Competitiveness and Fund solutions to real-world challenges, from AI that supports doctors, to satellites that protect farmers, to cleaner, smarter ways to move, live, and work.
The programme will build on the achievements and successes of the current research and innovation programme that runs from 2021 to 2027.
The new programme will be based on four pillars (instead of the current three), and it will support cutting-edge research, and innovation, attract and nurture research talent, foster international collaboration, and connect science with society.
- Pillar I ‘Excellent Science’ aims to strengthen the EU’s scientific base, attract top talent and promote excellent research in Europe. It covers the European Research Council (ERC), Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and science for EU policies through the Joint Research Centre. The ERC will be expanded to increase its ability to support frontier research, with a focus on funding excellent researchers and their teams following a ‘Choose Europe’ approach.
- Pillar II ‘Competitiveness and Society’ aims to support collaborative research and innovation in areas of high societal impact. It targets EU competitiveness in areas like the clean transition, digital leadership, defence, industry and space, in close cooperation with the European Competitiveness Fund. It will also address global societal challenges and features EU missions, as well as the New European Bauhaus Facility.
- Pillar III ‘Innovation’ aims to support innovation in Europe, with a focus on promoting the development of new products, services and business models. The European Innovation Council (EIC) will be expanded to fund high-risk disruptive projects in stages and will introduce a focus for defence and dual-use startups.
- Pillar IV ‘European Research Area’ aims to support the development of a unified European Research Area (ERA), with a focus on promoting excellence and impact, including a reformed widening component. As a novelty, it also supports the development and operation of research and technology infrastructures.
Programme implementation will be streamlined. This includes offering simplified support, reducing the number of topics, and shortening the time from call closure to grant signature.
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N.B. Info on the 2028-2034 EU budget (MFF) is available here.
