Horizon Europe is the EU’s main funding programme for research and innovation, with a budget of €95.5 billion for the period 2021-2017, which officially began on 1 January 2021.
It encompasses some of the key issues for European development and growth, such as research, energy, space, transport, telecommunications, and digital Europe. It addresses climate change, helps achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and promotes the EU’s competitiveness and growth.
The program facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting, and implementing EU policies, addressing global challenges. It supports the creation and better dissemination of excellent knowledge and technologies.
It creates jobs, fully engages the EU talent pool, stimulates economic growth, promotes industrial competitiveness and maximises the impact of investments within a strengthened European Research Area.
Legal entities from the EU and associated countries are eligible to participate.
Space research in Horizon Europe
EU space research is supported through framework programs such as Horizon Europe. Horizon 2020 was the latest framework program, covering the period from 2014 to 2020, which in turn was preceded by FP7, which ran from 2007 to 2013, and FP6, which ran from 2002 to 2006. Support from these programs is essential for the continued development of the space sector. In particular:
- Encourages the research community and the private sector to intensify their efforts in the space sector and increase investments;
- It helps support a competitive space industry that includes manufacturers, service providers and operators;
- It provides the services and infrastructure necessary for the development and exploitation of new technologies.
Specific actions are often carried out in cooperation with the research activities of EU countries and the European Space Agency (ESA).
Over €1.4 billion has been dedicated to Horizon 2020 to support Europe’s competitiveness in space research.
The new Horizon Europe calls will be released soon. More information is available at: https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en
