The European Parliament has approved the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme that will help the EU’s industry to decarbonise, digitalise and innovate.
During 2021-2027, EUR 95.5 billion is the overall budget, including EUR 5.4 billion from the EU’s Next Generation EU recovery plan and an additional investment of EUR 4 billion from the EU’s multiannual financial framework.
“We achieved an ambitious and balanced budget that strongly supports fundamental research as well as thematic research, including for the first time a specific budget for Europe’s cultural and creative industries. Horizon Europe will be a crucial part of Europe’s recovery. With this programme, the EU has also committed legally to defend academic freedom across the continent”, Christian Ehler (EPP, DE), rapporteur for the Horizon Europe specific programme said.
The research programme secures short- and long-term financing for research and innovation relating to global challenges including the fight against climate change, digitalisation, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Horizon Europe incorporates the EU’s highest ever budget allocation for digital-related research and digitalisation. It will also provide support for innovative SMEs, European research infrastructure, and an additional EUR 1 billion secured by the Parliament for basic research, which will be channelled through the European Research Council.
The programme was already provisionally put in place by the European Commission from 1 January 2021. MEPs gave their final approval to the agreement with Council on the Horizon Europe regulation on 27 April, adding a political declaration with 677 votes to 5 and 17 abstentions. They adopted the agreement with Council on the Horizon Europe specific programme with 661 votes to 5 and 33 abstentions.
The Excellent Science, the Innovative Europe and the Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, which includes the transport sector, are the three pillars of the Horizon Europe programme. It facilitates the collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting, and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges.
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