Horizon 2020’s first call

2013-12-19

Horizon 2020

On December 11th the European Commission presented the first calls for projects under Horizon 2020, the European Union's €80 billion research and innovation programme. 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. Calls in the 2014 budget alone are worth around €7.8 billion, with funding focused on the three key pillars of Horizon 2020:

• Excellent Science: Around €3 billion, including €1.7 billion for grants from the European Research Council for top scientists and €800 million for Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships for younger researchers.
• Industrial Leadership: €1.8 billion to support Europe's industrial leadership in areas like ICT, nanotechnologies, advanced manufacturing, robotics, biotechnologies and space.
• Societal challenges: €2.8 billion for innovative projects addressing Horizon 2020's seven societal challenges, broadly: health; agriculture, maritime and bioeconomy; energy; transport; climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials; reflective societies; and security. These calls provide ample opportunities for participation and for networking and research partnerships with scientists, universities, laboratories, and companies in Europe and internationally.

For further information please refer to:
1. Information on all open calls can be found at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/index.html
2. Summary of Horizon 2020 first calls http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1122_en.htm