As the successor to Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe represents the European Union’s most ambitious research and innovation funding programme to date. This article explores the objectives and structure of Horizon Europe, providing insights into its overarching goals and organisational framework.
Advancing Research and Innovation Excellence
At the heart of Horizon Europe lies the objective of advancing research and innovation excellence within the European Union and beyond. By investing in cutting-edge scientific research, technological development, and innovation activities, Horizon Europe aims to strengthen Europe’s global competitiveness, address societal challenges, and foster sustainable growth and prosperity.
Pillars and Programmes
Horizon Europe is structured around three main pillars, each designed to address specific research and innovation objectives. The first pillar, ‘Excellent Science’, focuses on supporting frontier research, strengthening the European Research Council (ERC), and promoting research infrastructures. The second pillar, ‘Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’, targets societal challenges and industrial competitiveness through thematic research and innovation missions. The third pillar, ‘Innovative Europe’, aims to drive innovation and entrepreneurship, supporting the development of breakthrough technologies and fostering the uptake of research results.
Funding Instruments and Mechanisms
Horizon Europe offers a diverse range of funding instruments and mechanisms to support research and innovation activities across different stages of the innovation lifecycle. These include grants, prizes, loans, equity investments, and public-private partnerships, tailored to the needs and objectives of various stakeholders, from individual researchers to large-scale collaborative projects and industry-driven initiatives.
Widening Participation and Strengthening Collaboration
An important objective of Horizon Europe is to widen participation and strengthen collaboration in research and innovation across Europe and beyond. Through dedicated measures and initiatives, Horizon Europe aims to address disparities in research and innovation performance between EU member states and regions, promote synergies with national and regional funding programmes, and enhance international cooperation with non-EU countries and global partners.
Integration of Responsible Research and Innovation
Horizon Europe places a strong emphasis on integrating responsible research and innovation (RRI) principles across all its activities. RRI encompasses ethical considerations, societal engagement, gender equality, open access to research results, and science education, ensuring that research and innovation activities are conducted in a transparent, inclusive, and socially responsible manner, and contribute to addressing societal needs and aspirations.
Embracing Horizon Europe’s Vision for Research and Innovation
In brief, Horizon Europe represents a transformative vision for research and innovation in Europe, driven by the objectives of excellence, societal impact, and global leadership. By fostering collaboration, promoting excellence, and integrating responsible research and innovation principles, Horizon Europe aims to unleash the full potential of Europe’s research and innovation ecosystem, driving progress towards a more sustainable, inclusive, and prosperous future for all.
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