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European funding for research, development & innovation (Horizon 2020)

Description:

Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union , a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness. The framework programme, consisting of multiple support mechanisms with an available budget of €79 billion, provides opportunities for industry and academia to draw down Research and Innovation funding. The programme succeeds the Seventh Framework Programme for Research 2007-2013 (FP7) and it is the biggest research and innovation funding programme of its kind.

Horizon 2020 has three key pillars; excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. The principal goals are 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.

Ireland has a new strategy to ensure strong participation by Irish researchers and companies in Horizon 2020, with a target of winning €1.25 billion over the programme period
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Implication(s):

Horizon 2020 offers Irish businesses and researchers significant opportunities to finance research and technology and build networks and partnerships for innovation. Ireland is well positioned to benefit from Horizon 2020, building on our strong performance in the last EU programme for research and development, the FP7. Horizon 2020 provides a simpler application process than FP7, which should help new projects get off the ground quickly and so achieve results faster.

The programme is also more attractive to SMEs than its predecessor. Irish SMEs can now engage in large collaborative projects, or seek support through a new dedicated SME instrument - the Competitiveness of Enterprises and SMEs (COSME). COSME has an individual budget of €2.3billion and aims to facilitate SME access to finance, create a supportive environment for business creation, help small businesses operate outside their home countries and improve their access to markets.

The first call for applications is now open.

Current Position:

Ireland needs to take full advantage of the opportunities that Horizon 2020 presents. Ireland has set an ambitious national target to secure funding of €1.25 billion from this programme. Therefore, the high level of engagement that the programme seeks to encourage by companies, particularly SMEs must be quickly realised and developed over its lifetime.The forthcoming strategy for science, technology and innovation 2015-2020 should therefore be aligned with the key pillars of Horizon 2020 and include strategic measures and supports that will help increase the success rate of Irish applications.

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Last Updated: 11/19/2013