EU Framework Programmes

Horizon 2020 was the European Union's eighth framework programme for research and innovation. It had a running period of seven years (2014–2020) and a budget of around €75 billion.

Horizon 2020 was dominated by European collaborative research, which enables collaboration across a wide range of partners from all sectors (science, business and society).

• Basic and applied research
• Thematic focus with a varying degree of specifications
• Funding of 100% of direct costs plus 25% overhead for indirect costs
• As a rule, at least three legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries

In addition, there is funding for individual researchers, in which the European Research Council (ERC) and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) play a central role.

European Research Council

• Promotion of pioneering “frontier research”
• Scientific excellence as the sole selection criterion
• Open topic
• Funding of 100% of direct costs plus 25% overhead for indirect costs
• Submission as sole applicant, except for Synergy Grants: groups of 2 to 4 researchers

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

• Promoting transnational and cross-sector mobility
• Promoting the career development of internationally mobile early career researchers
• Basic research through to market development
• Open topic
• Promotion through flat-rate grants (unit costs)
• Both joint and individual support

After a political agreement on Horizon Europe was reached on 11 December 2020, the EU's ninth framework programme was launched in 2021.

With a budget of €95.5 billion, it has been increased again compared to Horizon 2020. The first calls for proposals in the new framework programme already started in June 2021.

Key facts:

Horizon Europe is essentially a continuation of Horizon 2020, with only a few innovations. Compared to Horizon 2020, the two pillars "Industrial Leadership" and "Societal Challenges" have been combined into the current Pillar II "Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness" and streamlined to a total of six clusters. Here you will find the classic collaborative projects again.

The EIC:

In addition, the EIC (European Innovation Council) was institutionalised. The European Innovation Council will promote innovation according to high risk – high gain and open up new markets. The former FET (Future and Emerging Technologies) programmes from Horizon 2020 have been incorporated into the EIC.

The strategic plan:

The ninth framework programme also operates under a strategic plan, which links directly to the EU's policy priorities, and also sets out the desired impact of these. The main priorities are a greener and more digital Europe. The current strategic plan covers the first four years of the programme (2021–2024), and there will be a new strategic plan for the second programme period (2025–2027).

The missions:

Completely new in the framework programme are the so-called missions. These missions are defined as ambitious but realistic goals within a set timeframe on tangible, socially very relevant topics. They are intended to additionally strengthen the effectiveness of EU funding by forming a portfolio of sorts and thus achieving goals that would not be feasible in individual projects. The five topics of the missions are:

• Adaptation to climate change, including societal change
• Cancer
• Healthy oceans, seas, coastal and inland waters
• Climate-neutral smart cities
• Soil health and nutrition

Additional information can be found here:

European Commission website

German Federal Ministry of Education and Research website [German content]

If you have any questions regarding the application process or administrative support, please get in touch with your contact person in Section III/1 European Research Programmes.