Framework Programme 8

Framework Programme 8
Name	Framework Programme 8
Other names	Horizon 2020 successor
Start	2014
End	2020
Budget	€80–90 billion (approximate)
Jurisdiction	European Union
Predecessor	Seventh Framework Programme
Successor	Horizon Europe

Framework Programme 8 was the European Union's large-scale research and innovation funding programme running from 2014 to 2020, designed to support collaborative research across member states and associated countries. It aimed to boost competitiveness, address societal challenges, and foster excellence in science and technology through grants, partnerships, and prizes. The programme intersected with major EU policies and institutions and linked research actors from universities, industry, and public research organisations across Europe and beyond.

Background and objectives

Framework Programme 8 emerged from negotiations among the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council of the European Union, building on the legacy of the Fifth Framework Programme, the Sixth Framework Programme, and the Seventh Framework Programme. Key objectives aligned with strategic agendas set by the Lisbon Strategy, the Europe 2020 strategy, and declarations from the European Council. It sought to strengthen links between research bodies like the Max Planck Society, the Fraunhofer Society, and the CNRS with industrial partners such as Siemens, Philips, and Airbus. The programme promoted cooperation with international organisations including the European Space Agency, the European Centre for Nuclear Research, and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Structure and thematic priorities

The programme was organised around three pillars comparable to prior frameworks and influenced by topics from the Seventh Framework Programme and initiatives like the European Research Area. Pillar 1 focused on excellent science, supporting entities such as the European Research Council and networks like the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. Pillar 2 addressed industrial leadership with attention to competitiveness of companies like Nokia, Renault, and Roche and technology platforms involving Nanotechnology, Biotechnology, and Information and Communication Technologies. Pillar 3 targeted societal challenges including health issues highlighted by the World Health Organization, energy transitions discussed at COP21, and security concerns featured in communications from the European External Action Service. Cross-cutting actions linked to the Joint Research Centre and regional bodies such as the European Committee of the Regions.

Budget and funding mechanisms

Funding decisions balanced contributions from the European Parliament budget committee and the European Council finance directors, allocating a multiannual financial framework envelope negotiated alongside the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014–2020. Resources were distributed through competitive calls to consortia involving universities like University of Oxford, Université Paris-Sud, and University of Milan, corporate partners like IBM and GlaxoSmithKline, and institutes such as the Karolinska Institutet and Instituto Superior Técnico. Financial instruments included grants managed by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, public–private partnerships with associations like the European Chemical Industry Council, and prizes akin to those championed by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology. Specific mechanisms referenced procurement rules of the European Court of Auditors and audit practices linked to the European Investment Bank.

Implementation and governance

Governance combined central management by the European Commission with advisory bodies including the European Research Area Committee and stakeholder groups such as the Union of Industrial and Employers' Confederations of Europe. Implementation relied on research infrastructure coordinated through organisations like EMBL, ESRF, and ELIXIR, and on ethics oversight linked to rulings from the European Court of Justice. National contact points in member states coordinated with ministries exemplified by the Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung and Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur, de la Recherche et de l'Innovation. Monitoring and reporting drew on methodologies promoted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and evaluation panels populated by experts from institutions such as Imperial College London and the Max Planck Institute.

Major projects and initiatives

Framework Programme 8 funded high-profile consortia and flagship initiatives including collaborative projects with aerospace companies like Airbus and satellite programmes linked to European Space Agency activities, biomedical research involving European Molecular Biology Laboratory partners, and energy research connected to laboratories such as Petroleum Institute collaborators. Notable initiatives intersected with EU strategies such as the Digital Single Market and the Energy Union, and supported demonstrators from SMEs represented by European Association of Craft, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. Large-scale projects involved research infrastructures like CERN-associated experiments, marine research coordinated with the European Marine Board, and smart city pilots involving municipalities such as Barcelona and Helsinki. Joint Technology Initiatives brought together actors from the European Federation of Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations and the Clean Sky partnership.

Impact, evaluations and legacy

Evaluations by the European Court of Auditors and reports to the European Parliament assessed impacts on innovation performance in regions monitored by the European Commission's DG REGIO and on competitiveness metrics tracked by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The programme influenced successor policies embodied in Horizon Europe and contributed to capacity building in institutions like the European Research Council and networks such as the European Innovation Council. Its legacy included strengthened collaborations among universities like University of Cambridge and Université libre de Bruxelles, industry partners like Thales Group and BASF, and public research organisations exemplified by the Spanish National Research Council. Lessons informed reforms debated at the European Council and in reports by think tanks such as the Bruegel and Centre for European Policy Studies.

Category:European Union research programs