Lift-off for Europe's biggest ever R&D programme
Manuel Heitor - Photo Portuguese EU presidency - 2021PortugalEu
(LISBON) - The EU's Portuguese presidency launched the "Horizon Europe" programme Tuesday with a budget of around EUR 95 billion for research and innovation all over Europe from 2021-2027.
"Horizon Europe" is the ninth European framework programme for research and innovation, following on from the "Horizon 2020" programme (2014-2020), and will be the biggest programme ever undertaken in Europe.
The avowed aim is for the European Union to lead the twin green and digital transition in association with a resilient recovery through a renewed European Research Area (ERA) and through an effective increase in public and private investment in R&D, particularly in the context of the recent reaffirmation by the European Commission of the goal of 3% of public and private investment in R&D in terms of gross domestic product by 2030.
"Investing in science and innovation is investing in people, training people," said Portugal's Minister for Science Manuel Heitor, for the EU presidency.
Horizon Europe is supported on three pillars:
1. Excellent Science
Development of quality skills and knowledge in order to boost the European Union's scientific leadership, involving all European regions and citizens. Creation of new markets, working conditions and skills, especially in sectors hardest hit by the pandemic.
2. Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness
Natural resources, mobility, food, digital media and energy are some of the fields that can expect research to be stepped up into the challenges they face, and into the associated industrial technologies. It is in this pillar that new partnerships are envisaged with a view to achieving carbon neutrality.
3. Innovative and inclusive Europe
Encouragement will be provided for the creation of new career paths related to research, in the public and private sectors, making these careers more inclusive, in particular for women and minorities. Research and recruitment ecosystems will also be fostered, in order to train and retain talent in Europe. Other objectives include cooperation between national funding agencies and the European Commission, also contributing to efforts to create networks of European universities.
The European Union wants to maintain its lead in innovation and research. Strengthening these sectors means boosting our response to global challenges in areas such as the environment, health, the social pillar or the economy.