Official website

www.ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/

Geographic focus

EU 28, EEA, Candidate countries and neighbourhood countries.

Who can apply?

All natural or legal persons, regardless of their place of establishment or residence, but possessing the operational and financial capacity to carry out the proposed research tasks.

Objectives and activities

Objective: Horizon 2020 is helping to achieve economic growth with the emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. The goal is to ensure Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.

Activities:

• Excellent Science:
  
  • European Research Council;
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions;
  • European Research Infrastructures, including e-Infrastructures; and
  • Future and Emerging Technologies.
• Industrial Leadership:
  
  • Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies:
    • Information and Communication Technologies;
    • Space: and
    • Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, and Biotechnology.
  • Access to risk finance; and
  • Innovation in SMEs.
• Societal Challenges:
  
  • Health, Demographic Change and Wellbeing;
  • Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy;
  • Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials;
  • Secure societies – Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens;
  • Smart, Green and Integrated Transport;
  • Europe in a changing world - Inclusive, innovative and reflective societies; and
  • Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bio economy: EU's Blue Growth strategy: funding coastal tourism.

Type and level of funding

Horizon 2020 has a budget of EUR 80 billion of funding available over 7 years (2014 to 2020). Financial assistance is provided in the form of grants via calls for proposals and support to facilitate access to sources of debt and equity financing.