The much anticipated Horizon Europe program was launched today, 2nd February 2021. This historic unveiling of the European Commission program was presided over by the Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council and the European Commissioner, Mariya Gabriel, alongside key members of the European Parliament, ministers responsible for research, leading scientists and CEOs.
Horizon Europe is the EU’s most ambitious research and innovation program to date, and the largest transnational initiative of its kind worldwide. With clearly defined targets, this seven-year plan will focus on three pillars: Excellent Science; Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness; and Innovative Europe (see figure 1).
Horizon Europe’s Research and Innovation portfolio defines five mission areas:
- Cancer
- Adaptation to climate change including societal transformation.
- Healthy oceans, seas coastal and inland waters
- Climate neutral and smart cities
- Soil, health, and Food.
These will be incorporated within the Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness pillar in alignment with the other two pillars. Underpinning these is the aim to widen participation and strengthen the European Research Area by fostering global collaboration for open science within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
To fund this , the EC will raise EU science spending levels by 50% over the years 2021-2027, allocating a total budget of €95.5 billion to Horizon Europe’s Research and Innovation program, including € 5 billion from the EU’s corona virus economic recovery fund. 35% of this total will be invested to achieve climate objectives and green deal priorities.
At the launch, EU Council representatives backed the European Commissioner, Mariya Gabriel, (see figure 2) in her message to stakeholders to support developments in science, innovation and technology and to become key actors to create adaptable changes and transitions that have now become an obligation rather than a choice to make a better world.
For more information:
Publication Office of the European Union