Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 is the European Union's (EU) eighth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, following Seventh Framework Programme and preceding Horizon Europe. It was established by the European Commission, with Máire Geoghegan-Quinn as the Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, and Carlos Moedas as her successor, to address major Societal Challenges such as Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing, Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research, and the Bioeconomy, and Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy. The program involved collaboration with various organizations, including the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), European Research Council (ERC), and European Space Agency (ESA), to promote Innovation Union and European Innovation Partnership.

Introduction to Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 was launched in 2014, with a budget of nearly €80 billion, making it one of the largest Research and Development programs in the world, comparable to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in China. The program built on the achievements of its predecessors, including the Sixth Framework Programme and Seventh Framework Programme, and was designed to support research and innovation in European Union member states, as well as in Associated Countries such as Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland, through initiatives like the European Research Area (ERA) and European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). Horizon 2020 also collaborated with international partners, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, to address global challenges like Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Global Health, through programs like the International Energy Agency (IEA) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Objectives and Priorities

The main objectives of Horizon 2020 were to strengthen the European Research Area (ERA), foster Innovation Union, and address major Societal Challenges such as Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing, Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research, and the Bioeconomy, and Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy, through initiatives like the European Energy Union and European Green Deal. The program prioritized research and innovation in areas like Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, and Biotechnology, with a focus on Key Enabling Technologies (KETs) and Future and Emerging Technologies (FET), through programs like the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and European Research Council (ERC). Horizon 2020 also supported the development of European Innovation Partnerships, such as the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing and the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials, through collaboration with organizations like the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and European Space Agency (ESA).

Structure and Funding

Horizon 2020 was structured around three main pillars: Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership, and Societal Challenges, with a focus on Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation, through initiatives like the European Research Council (ERC) and European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The program was funded through a combination of European Union (EU) budget allocations and Private Sector investments, with a total budget of nearly €80 billion, comparable to the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in China. The funding was allocated through various instruments, including Grants, Loans, and Equity Investments, through programs like the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and European Investment Bank (EIB). Horizon 2020 also provided funding for Research Infrastructures, such as the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), through collaboration with organizations like the European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC) and European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI).

Participation and Eligibility

Horizon 2020 was open to participation from a wide range of organizations, including Universities, Research Institutes, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), and Large Enterprises, from European Union (EU) member states and Associated Countries such as Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland, through initiatives like the European Research Area (ERA) and European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The program also encouraged participation from international partners, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, to address global challenges like Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Global Health, through programs like the International Energy Agency (IEA) and World Health Organization (WHO). Eligibility for funding was based on a competitive evaluation process, with proposals assessed on their Scientific Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation, through evaluation panels like the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and European Research Council (ERC).

Notable Projects and Achievements

Horizon 2020 supported a wide range of notable projects and achievements, including the development of Graphene, a highly conductive and flexible material, through the Graphene Flagship project, and the creation of the Human Brain Project, a large-scale research initiative aimed at understanding the Human Brain, through collaboration with organizations like the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and European Research Council (ERC). The program also supported the development of Electric Vehicles and Renewable Energy Technologies, such as Solar Energy and Wind Energy, through initiatives like the European Green Deal and European Energy Union, and the creation of the European Open Science Cloud, a cloud-based infrastructure for Research Data and Computational Resources, through collaboration with organizations like the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN). Additionally, Horizon 2020 supported research and innovation in areas like Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, and Biotechnology, through programs like the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and European Research Council (ERC), and collaborated with international partners, including the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the United States and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) in China, to address global challenges like Climate Change, Sustainable Development, and Global Health, through initiatives like the International Energy Agency (IEA) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Category:European Union programs