25.03.2021
Ensuring Collaboration with Non-EU Countries to Build Stronger European Research and Innovation
Science Europe's Statement on the Participation of Associated Countries in Horizon Europe’s Pillar II
EU Framework Programmes - Horizon Europe
The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation is an essential tool to boost excellent research and foster collaboration at European level. Science Europe firmly believes that such an ambitious programme should help develop excellence throughout the European Research Area.
Why are the EU Framework Programmes important?
The EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation is the main EU funding instrument for R&I. The upcoming programme, Horizon Europe, will run from 2021 to 2027 and will have a budget of €95 billion. The previous programme, Horizon 2020, ran from 2014 to 2020.
The topic is a major priority area for Science Europe, which represents both research performing organisations – who are among the main beneficiaries of the Framework Programmes – and research funding organisations – who have decades of experience in setting up leading research programmes and regularly collaborate with the European Commission, notably through joint initiatives.
Science Europe and its members are committed to contributing to the success and efficiency of Horizon Europe to boost R&I in Europe.
What are the current priorities?
The European institutions are currently finalising the preparation of Horizon Europe. The programme aims to strengthen Europe’s position on the global R&I stage and to address the societal challenges that Europe faces.
During the legislative process to create Horizon Europe, Science Europe has advocated a Framework Programme that:
- has a substantially larger budget than Horizon 2020 to meet its ambitious goals.
- recognises ‘excellence’ as its core principle and reinforces instruments that promote research excellence, such as the European Research Council.
- provides opportunities for fundamental and applied research in all parts of the programme, including challenge-oriented research.
- includes measures to encourage and develop excellence in all countries of the European Research Area.
- encourages Open Access to research results, and data sharing.
- strengthens co-operation with public sector partners by joining R&I programmes and cross-border investment that benefits R&I.
What is Science Europe doing to achieve these aims?
Science Europe is an active voice in the ongoing Horizon Europe policy dialogue. It collaborates with policy makers to ensure that the input of its members is integrated in the programme’s implementation.
The association puts forward the experience of its members and provides feedback from approaches tested at national level. This helps inform the decisions on the development and implementation of new initiatives developed in Horizon Europe.
Science Europe also informs and supports its members regarding their own engagement with the Framework Programme.
Over the course of Horizon Europe’s lifespan, Science Europe will continue to defend the annual budget of the programme to ensure that minimum funding is at least at the level of the ceilings indicated in the Multiannual Financial Framework.
| Country | Organisation | Acronym | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | Austrian Science Fund | FWF | Reinhard Belocky |
| Belgium | Fund for Scientific Research | FRS-FNRS | Natacha Wittorski |
| Belgium | Research Foundation Flanders | FWO | Ann Van Hauwaert |
| Denmark | Independent Research Fund Denmark | DFF | Anne Lindeløv |
| Estonia | Estonian Research Council | ETAg | Ülle Napa |
| Finland | Academy of Finland | AKA | Hannele Lahtinen |
| France | French National Research Agency | ANR | Nakita Vodjdani |
| Germany | German Research Foundation | DFG | Martin Winger |
| Germany | Max Planck Society | MPG | Rüdiger Hesse |
| Ireland | Irish Research Council | IRC | Peter Brown |
| Ireland | Science Foundation Ireland | SFI | Dolores Melgar |
| Italy | National Institute for Nuclear Physics | INFN | Francesco Ferlaino |
| Lithuania | Research Council of Lithuania | LMT | Jūratė Devižienė |
| Netherlands | Dutch Research Council | NWO | Joyce Kuipers |
| Norway | Research Council of Norway | RCN | Tom-Espen Møller |
| Norway | Research Council of Norway | RCN | Tor Ivar Eikaas |
| Poland | Foundation for Polish Science | FNP | Michal Pietras |
| Poland | National Science Centre Poland | NCN | Sylwia Kostka |
| Portugal | Foundation for Science and Technology | FCT | Ana Mafalda Dourado |
| Spain | Spanish National Research Council | CSIC | Berta Martínez |
| Sweden | Swedish Research Council for Sustainable Development | FORMAS | Britta Fängström |
| Sweden | Swedish Research Council | VR | Ana Beramendi |
| Switzerland | Swiss National Science Foundation | SNSF | Rahel Byland (Co-chair) |
| United Kingdom | UK Research and Innovation | UKRI | Inga Benner (Co-chair) |
Related content
22.10.2020
"Horizon Europe: If we mess this up we are putting our future at stake!"
Together with LERU, EUA, EARTO, and the Vice-Presidents of the European Research Council (ERC), we join MEP Christian Ehler from the EEP Group in his call to match the Green & Digital goals with a budget fit for this age.
18.09.2020
Response to the European Commission Consultation on the Horizon Europe First Strategic Plan 2021-2024
In its response to the European Commission, Science Europe outlines numerous topics that should be further addressed in order to create the best possible start for Horizon Europe. Such developments include striking the right balance between research and innovation, embedding the whole spectrum of equality aspects, better integration of Social Sciences and Humanities, and the creation of synergies between the various parts of the programme.
16.09.2020
Reaction to the State of the European Union 2020
Science Europe welcomes the European Commission’s ambitions for digital and green transformation as highlighted by President von der Leyen today.
22.07.2020
Reaction to the European Council's Proposal for the European Budget
The Research and Innovation (R&I) sector has been sacrificed in these budget negotiations, when it should have been the spearhead of an ambitious, future-oriented, knowledge-based plan for Europe. Science Europe now calls the European Parliament and the European Commission, as the protectors of European R&I, to continue taking a strong stand in favour of a larger budget for Horizon Europe
18.06.2020
Strengthening European Research: Funding Boost Needed to Guarantee Sustainability
Science Europe calls on the leaders of the EU to dedicate increased funding to research and innovation at the 19 June European Council meeting on the EU long-term budget and COVID-19 recovery fund.
An increased budget is necessary to meet the ambitious objectives of the European Union for a sustainable, healthy planet, and to ensure the global competitiveness of its research sector.
Science Europe also emphasises the need for sustained European leadership in tackling all COVID-19-incurred challenges.
MORE?