€16 billion funding for research and innovation

The European Commission has announced an investment of €16 billion (£11 billion) for research and innovation in the next two years under the EU research and innovation scheme, Horizon 2020.

This new investment – offered by a new Work Programme for 2016-2017 adopted on 13 October – will offer opportunities through a range of calls for proposals, public procurements and other actions such as the Horizon Prizes, together covering nearly 600 topics.

Carlos Moedas, Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation said: “Research and innovation are the engines of Europe’s progress and vital to addressing today’s new pressing challenges like immigration, climate change, clean energy and healthy societies. Over the next two years, €16 billion from Horizon 2020 will support Europe’s top scientific efforts, making the difference to citizens’ lives.”

Almost €1.7 billion will be invested in 2016 alone for 1,000 European Research Council (ERC) grants.

Topics are set for two years and should not change, unless emergency re-allocation of resources is needed such as the Ebola epidemic last year.

The programme will support initiatives such as: the modernisation of Europe’s manufacturing industry (€1 billion); technologies and standards for automatic driving (over €100 million); digitalisation of EU industries (€139 million); development of strong and sustainable economies (€670 million); and better integration of environmental, transport, energy and digital networks in EU’s urban environments (€232 million).

The Work Programme will aim to improve the impact of 2020 funding by ensuring more money for innovative companies and offering financial support of over €740 million for nearly 2000 small and medium enterprises. Also, the programme will support researchers in their applications with clearer guidance and impact criteria.