The European Union Research Framework Programme 2014-2020
Horizon 2020 is the biggest EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation so far, with a budget of nearly € 80 billion to be invested during a period of seven years, from 2014 to 2020. Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a flagship initiative of the Europe 2020 Strategy to drive sustainable growth, create jobs and ensure Europe’s global competitiveness. The Programme is the eighth phase of the EU Framework for Research and Innovation funding programmes created by the European Commission in order to support and encourage the European Research Area (ERA).
On top of Horizon 2020’s budget, the EU attracts a significant volume of private investment. This gives a strong push to support innovation breakthroughs, world-class science and market uptake of innovative ideas. Horizon 2020 is founded on three key pillars:
- Excellent Science: supporting world-leading scientists in frontier research
- Industrial Leadership: building industrial leadership in Europe
- Societal Challenges: tackling societal challenges for a better society
Funding opportunities under Horizon 2020 are set out in multi-annual work programmes (WPs). The preparation of the WPs takes into account consultations with the public as well as with the Horizon 2020 Advisory Groups that bring together experts from industry and research sectors and representatives of civil society. Additional open and targeted consultation activities aim to obtain further views and contributions, including from European innovation partnerships and European technology platforms. Check out the complete WP 2018-2020 of Horizon 2020 here.
Within the thematic streams of Horizon 2020, the following offer the most promising opportunities to funding research and innovation projects with most relevance to the forest-based sector:
Improving industrial competitiveness by achieving leadership in Key Enabling Technologies (KET)
- Future and Emerging Technologies
- Industrial Technologies: Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology, and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing (NMBP)
- Information and Communication Technologies
- Space technology
- Supporting innovation in SMEs
The forest-based sector addressing societal challenges:
- Societal Challenge 2: Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry, Marine, Maritime and Inland Water Research and the Bioeconomy
- Societal Challenge 3: Secure, Clean and Efficient Energy
- Societal Challenge 5: Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials
The Horizon 2020 work programme is complemented by the separate work programmes of the European Research Council, Euratom, the Joint Research Centre and the Strategic Innovation Agenda for the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
Visit the website of Horizon 2020 and learn how to get funding.
Discover the complete Manual for the Call topics relevant for the forest-based sector here.
