UNESCO SCIENCE REPORT

European Union
MONITORING THE LATEST FRAMEWORK
PROGRAMMES FOR RESEARCH
Horizon 2020: the EU’s biggest research programme
ever
The funding levels of the EU’s successive framework
programmes for research and development have grown
consistently over time from € 4 billion for the first one from
1984 to 1988 to € 53 billion for the Seventh Framework
Programme for Research and Technological Development
(2007–2013) and nearly € 80 billion for Horizon 2020, the
biggest EU research programme ever. Horizon 2020 was
proposed by the European Commission in November 2011
and adopted by the European Parliament and European
Council in December 2013.
Horizon 2020 focuses on implementing Europe 2020, in
general, and the Innovation Union, in particular, by bringing
together all existing EU research and innovation funding and
providing support in a seamless way from idea to market,
through streamlined funding instruments and a simpler
programme architecture and rules for participation. The bulk
of the € 80 billion will promote excellent science (32%) and
address societal challenges (39%) [Table 9.8].
Green growth main societal challenge
Many of the societal challenges covered by Horizon 2020
relate to green growth areas, such as sustainable agriculture
and forestry, climate action, green transportation or resource
efficiency. Some of Europe 2020’s most positive results so far
concern reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. By 2012, the
Table 9.8: Structure and budget of Horizon 2020, 2014–2020
Final
breakdown
(%)
Estimated final
amount in € millions
(in current prices)
Excellent science, of which 31.7 24 441
European Research Council 17.0 13 095
Future and Emerging Technologies 3.5 2 696
Marie-Skłodowska-Curie Actions 8.0 6 162
European research infrastructures (including Infrastructures) 3.2 2 488
Industrial leadership, of which 22.1 17 016
Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies 17.6 13 557
Access to risk finance 3.7 2 842
Innovation in SMEs 0.8 616
Societal challenges, of which 38.5 29 679
Health, demographic change and well-being 9.7 7 472
Food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine maritime and inland water research and the bio-economy 5.0 3 851
Secure, clean and efficient energy 7.1 5 931
Smart, green and integrated transport 8.2 6 339
Climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials 4.0 3 081
Europe in a changing world - Inclusive innovative and reflective societies 1.7 1 309
Secure societies – Protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens 2.2 1 695
Science with and for society 0.6 462
Spreading excellence and widening participation 1.1 816
European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) 3.5 2 711
Non-nuclear direct actions of the JRC 2.5 1 903
TOTAL EU REGULATION 100.0 77 028
Fusion indirect actions 45.4 728
Fission indirect actions 19.7 316
Nuclear direct actions of the Joint Research Centre 34.9 560
TOTAL Euratom regulation 2014–2018 100.0 1 603
Note: Owing to of Euratom’s different legal base, its budgets are fixed for five years. For the years 2014–2018, the budget is estimated to be € 1 603 million
and for the years 2019–2020 an amount of € 770 million is foreseen.
Source: European Commission: http://ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/pdf/press/fact_sheet_on_horizon2020_budget.pdf
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