Horizon Europe

EU’s Flagship programme for Research and Innovation

Horizon Europe

EU’s Flagship programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027), €93.5 billion budget.

The programme will tackle climate change, helping to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosting the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges.

It supports the creation and better diffusion of excellent knowledge and technologies.

Horizon Europe’s 6 Research & Innovation Clusters

Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme for 2021–2027, structured around six thematic clusters under Pillar II: “Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness.” Each cluster addresses pressing societal issues through collaborative research and innovation.

Here’s a brief overview of all six clusters:

Cluster 1: Health

Aims to improve and protect the health and well-being of citizens of all ages by generating new knowledge, developing innovative solutions, and integrating a gender perspective to prevent, diagnose, monitor, treat, and cure diseases. It also focuses on developing health technologies, mitigating health risks, protecting populations, and promoting good health and well-being in general and at work. Additionally, this cluster aims to make public health systems more cost-effective, equitable, and sustainable, prevent and tackle poverty-related diseases, and support and enable patients' participation and self-management.

Cluster 2: Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society

Focuses on strengthening European democratic values, including the rule of law and fundamental rights, safeguarding cultural heritage, and promoting socio-economic transformations that contribute to inclusion and growth.

Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society

Addresses challenges arising from persistent security threats, including cybercrime, as well as natural and man-made disasters. It supports research and innovation in disaster-resilient societies, protection and security, and cybersecurity.

Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space

Aims to shape competitive and trusted technologies for a European industry with global leadership in key areas. It focuses on enabling production and consumption that respect the boundaries of our planet and maximizing benefits for all parts of society. Areas of intervention include manufacturing technologies, key digital technologies (including quantum), advanced materials, artificial intelligence and robotics, next-generation internet, advanced computing and big data, circular industries, low-carbon and clean industries, and space (including Earth observation)

Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility

Aims to fight climate change by better understanding its causes, evolution, risks, impacts, and opportunities. It seeks to make the energy and transport sectors more climate and environment-friendly, efficient and competitive, smarter, safer, and more resilient. Areas of intervention include climate science and solutions, energy supply, energy systems and grids, buildings and industrial facilities in energy transition, communities and cities, industrial competitiveness in transport, clean, safe and accessible transport and mobility, smart mobility, and energy storage.

Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Aims to reduce environmental degradation, halt and reverse the decline of biodiversity on land, inland waters, and sea, and better manage natural resources through transformative changes of the economy and society in both urban and rural areas. It ensures food and nutrition security for all within planetary boundaries through knowledge, innovation, and digitalization in agriculture, fisheries, aquaculture, and food systems. The cluster also steers and accelerates the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient circular economy and sustainable bioeconomy, including forestry.

Three Pillars form the central part of Horizon Europe

SPECIFIC PROGRAMME: european defence fund

Exclusive focus on defence research & development

Research Actions
Development Actions

Specific Programme Implementing Horizon Europe & EIT*

Exclusive focus on civil applications

Pillar I: Excellent Science

With 25 Billion Euro allocated to supporting frontier research projects through the European Research Council (ERC) and funding fellowships and exchanges for researchers through Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitivenes

With more than EUR 53 billion to turn results of excellent research into innovation solutions to improve the lives of citizens by tackling global challenges.

European Grants

Pillar III: Innovative Europe

With more than EUR 53 billion to turn results of excellent research into innovation solutions to improve the lives of citizens by tackling global challenges.

WIDENING PARTICIPATION AND STRENGTHENING THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA

 Widening participation & spreading excellence Reforming & Enhancing the European R&I system

*The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) is not part of the Specific Programme.

Pillar I: Excellent Science – Euro 25 billion

Is allocated to supporting frontier research projects through the European Research Council (ERC) and funding fellowships and exchanges for researchers through Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

Pillar II: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitivenes

With more than EUR 53 billion to turn results of excellent research into innovation solutions to improve the lives of citizens by tackling global challenges.

Pillar III: Innovative Europe

With more than EUR 53 billion to turn results of excellent research into innovation solutions to improve the lives of citizens by tackling global challenges.

WIDENING PARTICIPATION AND STRENG THENING THE EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA

 Widening participation & spreading excellence Reforming & Enhancing the European R&I system

*The European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) is not part of the Specific Programme.

Who can apply for Horizon Europe funding?

The call encourages the participation of a wide range of stakeholders - farmers, brand owners, companies, research organisations and local authorities, to name just a few - to support the deployment of bio-based solutions.

Who can apply?

Depending on the funding scheme, a great variety of organisations can apply for EIC funding: SMEs, research organisations, universities, industry, spin-offs, start-ups, individuals (intending to launch a start-up/SME) and in exceptional cases small mid-caps (fewer than 500 employees).

What is available?

There are four options within the EIC scheme: Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator and STEP Scale Up.

Learn More