Horizon Europe funding

What is Horizon Europe?

Horizon Europe is the latest EU flagship programme for research and innovation, following-on from its predecessor, Horizon 2020.

It will run from 2021- 2027 and has an overall budget of €95.5 billion.

Research Funding is allocated through Research Programmes that adopt a number of different schemes; some of which are new iterations of previous funding schemes such as the European Research Council, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions; and some of which are new initiatives such as Mission-Orientated Funding. 

Further details of these can be found on the EC Horizon Europe’s web pages.  

Which schemes can the UK participate in?

With the exception of the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund, which is part of the EIC Accelerator, the UK can participate in all areas of Horizon Europe. 

How is Horizon Europe structured?

Horizon Europe is primarily based around 3 main pillars of activity:

Pillar 1: Excellent Science

This pillar reinforces and extends the excellence of the EU’s science base.

It includes:

Pillar 2: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness

This pillar is aimed at boosting key technologies and solutions underpinning EU policies & Sustainable Development Goals. 

Activity is organised around 6 new research 'clusters' 

  • Health
  • Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society
  • Civil Security for Society
  • Digital, Industry and Space
  • Climate, Energy, and Mobility
  • Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Read more about applying for thematic research clusters.

Pillar 3: Innovative Europe

This pillar is about stimulating market-creating breakthroughs and ecosystems conducive to innovation. This includes the EIC and EIT.

The pillars are supported by cross-cutting Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area initiatives. 

This pillar includes EIC funding. Read more about applying for EIC funding.

Missions

The EU has identified 5 of the greatest challenges facing humankind and has allocated a mission to each of these:

  • Cancer
  • Adaptation to Climate Change including Societal Transformation
  • Healthy Oceans, Seas, Coastal and Inland Waters
  • Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities
  • Soil, Health and Food

Missions are “portfolios of actions” - such as research projects, policy measures or even legislative initiatives - to achieve a measurable goal that could not be achieved through individual actions. 

Unlike other research programmes the emphasis will be on establishing impact-driven but realistic goals, and be clearly-measurable and time-bound. They will feature across Pillar Two - Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness.

Read more about the missions.

Further links and resources