Nov 30, 2017

Work Programmes 2018-2020 published by the European Commission

The European Commission recently announced how it will spend €30 billion of the EU research and innovation funding programme Horizon 2020 during 2018-2020, including €2.7 billion to kick-start a European Innovation Council.

Horizon 2020, the EU's €77 billion research and innovation funding programme, supports scientific excellence in Europe and has contributed to high-profile scientific breakthroughs. Over the next three years, the Commission will seek greater impact of its research funding by focusing on fewer, but critical topics such as migration, security, climate, clean energy and digital economy.

Focusing on political priorities
The 2018-2020 Work Programme will focus efforts on fewer topics with bigger budgets, directly supporting the Commission's political priorities:

A low-carbon, climate resilient future: €3.3 billion
Circular Economy: €1 billion
Digitising and transforming European industry and services: €1.7 billion
Security Union: €1 billion
Migration: €200 million

€2.2 billion will be earmarked for clean energy projects in four interrelated areas: renewables, energy efficient buildings, electro-mobility and storage solutions, including €200 million to support the development and production in Europe of the next generation of electric batteries.

Supporting breakthrough, market-creating innovation as well as 'blue sky' research
Within the framework of the new Work Programme, The Commission is launching the first phase of the European Innovation Council. Between 2018 and 2020, €2.7 billion will be mobilised from Horizon 2020 to support high-risk, high-gain innovation to create the markets of the future. At the same time, Horizon 2020 will continue to fund 'frontier research' with nearly €1.86 billion for excellent researchers. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, which fund fellowships for researchers at all stages of their careers, receive a boost with €2.9 billion in total over three years.

Enhancing international cooperation
The new Work Programme also strengthens international cooperation in research and innovation. It will invest over €1 billion in 30 flagship initiatives in areas of mutual benefit. Examples include working with Canada on personalised medicine, with the US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Australia on road transport automation, with India on water challenges and with African countries on food security and renewable energies.

Please find more detailed information on the funding priorities and novelties in the official press release and the accompanying fact sheet on the website of the European Commission. Additionally, we provide a concise overview of the Topics and Deadlines in our summary.

In case you have any questions or would like to seek a personal consultation on the funding opportunities, please do not hesitate to contact the EPC staff.

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