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EU Framework ProgrammeHorizon 2020

On 1 January 2014, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation Horizon 2020 was launched as the successor to the 7th EU Research Framework Programme (FP7). Horizon 2020 ran from 2014 to 2020 with a total budget of around 80 billion euros. It was succeeded by Horizon Europe.

Horizon 2020 Logo

Horizon 2020 bundled the previous Research Framework Programme (FP), the research-relevant parts of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Technology (EIT). For universities, the European Research Council (ERC grants) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) programme areas are particularly relevant, as is the part of Horizon 2020 relating to collaborative research on major societal challenges.

Funding instruments in Horizon 2020

Spread across three central areas that are of key importance for Horizon 2020, there are various funding instruments, some new and some already established.

1. "Scientific excellence"

  • European Research Council (ERC)
  • Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions
  • Research infrastructures

2. "Leading role of industry"

3. "Societal challenges"

Horizon 2020 is dominated by collaborative research, which enables a large number of partners from science, industry and society to work together. However, funding for individual researchers (e.g. as part of the European Research Council or the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Programme) also plays a central role.