Research and innovation

Introduction

To modernize the European research area, the European Union has established a multiannual framework program for research and innovation: the Horizon Europe program, which covers the period 2021-2027. This program governs cooperation between the European Union and third countries in the field of research and innovation. The general objectives of the ‘Horizon Europe’ program are:

• to strengthen the scientific and technological bases of the Union;
• to boost its competitiveness, including that of its industry;
• to implement the Union’s strategic political priorities; and
• to contribute to addressing global challenges, including the sustainable development goals.

The program is organized around four pillars: excellent science (27% of the total budget), global challenges and European industrial competitiveness (55.3% of the total budget), a more innovative Europe (14% of the total budget), and finally, a desire to broaden participation and strengthen the European Research Area (3.8% of the total budget).

The European Union’s cohesion policy for the 2021-2027 programming period is aligned accordingly: the first of the five specific objectives aims to establish “a smarter Europe by promoting a shift towards an intelligent and innovative economy.”