First calls for Horizon 2020 launched

On 11 December the European Commission presented calls for projects under Horizon 2020 – the European Union’s EUR 80 billion research and innovation funding instrument.

Horizon 2020 is set to run from 2014 to 2020 and will house all EU-science funding under one roof. The new programme will be ‘challenge-driven,’ an approach that steers away from the previously thematic-led approach towards increased multidisciplinary cooperation.

Worth more than EUR 15 billion over the first two years, the funding is intended to help boost Europe’s knowledge-driven economy, and tackle issues that will make a difference in people’s lives. Horizon 2020 is split into three pillars: Excellence in science, Societal challenges and Industrial leadership.

European Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: ‘It’s time to get down to business. Horizon 2020 funding is vital for the future of research and innovation in Europe, and will contribute to growth, jobs and a better quality of life. We have designed Horizon 2020 to produce results, and we have slashed red tape to make it easier to participate. So I am calling on researchers, universities, businesses including SMEs, and others to sign up!’

For the first time, the Commission has indicated funding priorities over two years, providing researchers and businesses with more certainty than ever before on the direction of EU research policy. Most calls from the 2014 budget are already open for submissions with more to follow over the course of the year.

More information

Horizon 2020
http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/

Category: Projects

Subject Index: Coordination, Cooperation; Innovation, Technology Transfer; Scientific Research

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