"Horizon Europe" – An important step towards the new EU Research Framework Programme
Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG on the "partial general approach" reached at the Competitiveness Council – Austria has made a major contribution with its committed work during the Austrian EU-Presidency
"The pieces of the puzzle fit together step by step to form an excellent and innovative whole" – Henrietta Egerth and Klaus Pseiner, Managing Directors of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG, with EU Commissioner Carlos Moedas and Minister Heinz Faßmann.
Fotocredit: FFG/Oreste Schaller
The Research Ministers of the European Union agreed at the Competitiveness Council on 30 November 2018 on the "partial general approach" and thus on the content structure and future rules of the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, "Horizon Europe" (2021 - 2027). "This basic agreement is a further important step on the way to the new EU Research Framework Programme – the pieces of the puzzle fit together step by step to form an excellent and innovative whole. With an ambitious programme, together we can succeed in securing and further promoting prosperity and growth in Europe," said Henrietta Egerth and Klaus Pseiner, Managing Directors of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency FFG, which acts as the National Contact Point for the EU Research Framework Programme and thus contributes to Austria's success at EU level. Science and Research Minister Heinz Faßmann and his team had made a major contribution to the agreement during the Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
"From our point of view it is central that 'Horizon Europe' promotes the range from basic research to disruptive innovations and addresses both fields of technology and social challenges", the two FFG Managing Directors emphasise. With the newly planned European Innovation Council (EIC) it is important to seize the opportunity "to close the much lamented gap between laboratory and market". Egerth and Pseiner also underline the importance of further simplifications in the application and management of research projects. "In addition to the content of 'Horizon Europe', it will now also be central to provide the programme with a correspondingly ambitious budget! In any case, the target must be 100 billion euros PLUS," said Egerth and Pseiner with regard to the European Commission's proposal.
"Horizon Europe" builds on the current EU research framework programme "Horizon 2020" and will also support the entire research and innovation cycle. It will also be based on three pillars: Pillar I ("Excellent science") will continue to focus on excellent science and will be home to the European Research Council (ERC). Pillar II ("Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness") focuses on global challenges and industrial competitiveness and for the first time includes "missions" with the clear goal of tackling social or technological priorities in a focused manner.
New in Pillar III ("Innovative Europe") is the European Innovation Council (EIC). Its aim is to use appropriate instruments to help the EU become a leader in breakthrough market-creating innovation. The next step is to start negotiations between the Council and the European Parliament. “Horizon Europe" will start on 1 January 2021.