Horizon Europe
{{Short description|European Union research program}}
{{EngvarB|date=February 2021}}
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Horizon Europe is a seven-year European Union scientific research initiative to help develop a sustainable and livable society in Europe. It is the ninth of the Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development (FP9), and the successor of the Horizon 2020 programme (FP8). The European Commission drafted and approved a plan for Horizon Europe to raise EU science spending levels by 50% over the years 2021–2027.
Objectives
Horizon Europe adopts five missions:
- Adaptation to Climate Change: support at least 150 European regions and communities to become climate resilient by 2030
- Cancer: working with Europe's Beating Cancer Plan to improve the lives of more than 3 million people by 2030 through disease prevention, cure and solutions to live longer and better
- Restore our Ocean and Waters by 2030
- 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030
- A Soil Deal for Europe: 100 living labs and lighthouses to lead the transition towards healthy soils by 2030{{cite web | url=https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe_en | title=EU Missions in Horizon Europe|date=29 November 2023 | website=research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu}}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes}}
Budget
In May 2018, the proposal for Horizon Europe (as the future successor for the Horizon 2020 programme, 2014–2020) called for €100 billion in research and innovation spending for years 2021–2027. Of that sum, €2.4 billion was earmarked for the Euratom nuclear research programme and €3.6 billion was put away for an umbrella investment fund, called InvestEU. After accounting for 2% annual inflation, in 2018 the funding for Horizon Europe amounted to €86.6 billion.{{cite news|url=https://sciencebusiness.net/framework-programmes/news/eu100b-eu866b-brussels-puzzle-how-big-new-research-budget|title=€100B? €86.6B? A Brussels puzzle: How big is the new research budget?|last=Kelly|first=Eanna|date=May 8, 2018|work=Science Business|access-date=May 11, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/sites/beta-political/files/communication-modern-budget-may2018_en.pdf|title=Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions|last=The European Commission}}
The budget of €95.5 billion for Horizon Europe, which was launched in 2021, is up from the €77 billion budget for its predecessor, Horizon 2020.{{cite web | title=What is Horizon Europe? | url=https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en|access-date=2023-09-06 | website=ec.europa.eu}}{{cite web | date=2021-05-06 | title=What is the budget of Horizon Europe? | url=https://eufunds.me/what-is-the-budget-of-horizon-europe/|access-date=2023-09-06 | website=EU Funds | language=en-US}}{{cite book | title=Horizon Europe, budget | url=https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/1f107d76-acbe-11eb-9767-01aa75ed71a1 | format=PDF | date=2021-05-04 | isbn=978-92-76-31601-5 | doi=10.2777/202859 | access-date=2023-09-06 | author1=European Commission. Directorate General for Research and Innovation. | publisher=Publications Office}} Compared to the previous framework programme Horizon 2020, some changes in terms of cost reporting have been implemented with the objective to simplify the grant management process.{{cite web |title=EU Funds Simply Explained |url=https://eufunds.me/ |website=EU Funds |access-date=17 May 2021}} To pay for the €100 billion science spending, the Commission's plan called for cuts to agriculture and cohesion funding by 5 per cent. Additionally, the plan seeks to tie funding to adherence to the rule of law in member states, including judicial independence.
Independent observers had predicted the final approved funding to be much lower after completion of the lengthy negotiations with the European Parliament and EU member states.{{cite journal|last=Brainard|first=Jeffrey|date=May 2018|title=EU Budget May Rise by 50%|url=http://www.sciencemagazinedigital.org/sciencemagazine/11_may_2018/MobilePagedReplica.action?sub_id=uUuK6gohb1mK&u1=41756170&pm=2&folio=582#pg10|journal=Science|volume=360|pages=583|via=Direct Access}} Former EU commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas, along with many advocacy groups, had pushed for a more expansive EU science budget. In order to build political support for the budget increase, he used American originated ideas of "moonshots" to focus research efforts and boost the public interest.{{cite news|url=https://sciencebusiness.net/framework-programmes/news/eu-officials-pitch-horizon-europe-name-next-research-programme|title=EU officials pitch 'Horizon Europe' as name for next research programme|last=Kelly|first=Éanna|date=April 24, 2018|work=Science Business|access-date=May 11, 2018}} Wealthier EU members have expressed opposition to the increase in funding, with former Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte saying in May 2018 the draft budget was "unacceptable".{{cite web|url=https://sciencebusiness.net/framework-programmes/news/blocking-increase-research-budget-would-put-europe-losers-path|title=Blocking an increase in the research budget would put Europe on a 'loser's path' {{!}} Science{{!}}Business|website=sciencebusiness.net|language=en|access-date=2018-05-11}}
EU members of Horizon Europe
{{columns list|
- {{flag|Austria}}
- {{flag|Belgium}}
- {{flag|Bulgaria}}
- {{flag|Croatia}}
- {{flag|Cyprus}}
- {{flag|Czech Republic}}
- {{flag|Denmark}}
- {{flag|Estonia}}
- {{flag|Finland}}
- {{flag|France}}
- {{flag|Germany}}
- {{flag|Greece}}
- {{flag|Hungary}}
- {{flag|Ireland}}
- {{flag|Italy}}
- {{flag|Latvia}}
- {{flag|Lithuania}}
- {{flag|Luxembourg}}
- {{flag|Malta}}
- {{flag|Netherlands}}
- {{flag|Poland}}
- {{flag|Portugal}}
- {{flag|Romania}}
- {{flag|Slovakia}}
- {{flag|Slovenia}}
- {{flag|Spain}}
- {{flag|Sweden}}
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Cooperation beyond the EU and associated members
Horizon Europe supports European partnerships in which the EU, national authorities and / or the private sector jointly commit to support the development and implementation of a programme of research and innovation activities. To be deemed a Horizon Europe Associated Member is to engage in "the closest form of cooperation in research and innovation for non-EU countries, by providing, as far as possible, the same rights and obligations to these countries' research and innovation entities as those accorded to entities of EU Member States."{{cite news | url=https://research-and-innovation.ec.europa.eu/strategy/strategy-2020-2024/europe-world/international-cooperation/association-horizon-europe_en | title=Association to Horizon Europe - European Commission}} Associated Countries are "non-EU countries that pay into the Horizon Europe budget to be treated equally to the EU Member States for the purposes of the programme."{{cite news | url=https://www.innovationisrael.org.il/ISERD/contentpage/associated-countries | title=Associated Countries}}
Horizon Europe partnerships have raised questions about possible use in military technology development responsible for human rights abuses. In 2024, an in-depth study carried out by Statewatch and Informationsstelle Militarisierung (IMI) found that millions of euros in Horizon funding had been used to develop military drone technology used against civilians in Gaza, despite strict prohibitions on the use of Horizon funding for military application in the EU Treaties.https://www.euronews.com/2024/03/23/eu-funding-drone-technology-used-by-israel-in-gaza-war-claims-monitor
Horizon Europe expanded its partnerships beyond the 27 member states of the EU, including the following:
- In August 2022, the United Kingdom launched formal dispute resolution proceedings over its access to the programme.{{cite web | title=UK launches formal consultations with EU over access to scientific programmes |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-launches-formal-consultations-with-eu-over-access-to-scientific-programmes | access-date=2022-08-31 | website=GOV.UK | language=en}} In September 2023, the United Kingdom and European Union reached an agreement on the UK rejoining Horizon starting from 1 January 2024.{{cite web | date=2023-09-07 | title=EU-UK relations: Commission and UK reach political agreement on UK participation in Horizon Europe and Copernicus |url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_23_4374 | access-date=2024-01-01 | website=European Commission | language=en}}
- Participants from non-associated non-EU countries, can participate in Horizon Europe actions, but not always with funding.
In addition, the following countries are interested in exploring the concept of association to Horizon Europe:
| class="wikitable" | ||
| State
! style="width:50%;"|Note ! Ref | ||
|---|---|---|
| {{flag|Japan}} | Sides preparing for potential launch of formal negotiations. | {{cite web | url=https://www.innovationisrael.org.il/ISERD/contentpage/associated-countries | title=Associated Countries}} |
| {{flag|Morocco}} | Negotiations paused. | |
| {{flag|Singapore}} | Expressed its interest to launch exploratory discussions. |
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe_en Horizon Europe] official website
{{Funding programmes of the European Union}}
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