FP6 and FP7 Framework Programme 6 and 7 (2002–2013) projects were generally funded through
instruments, the most important of which included: • Integrating Project (IP) • Medium- to large-sized collaborative research projects funded in FP6 and FP7. They are composed of a minimum of three partners coming from three countries from
Associated states but can join several tens of partners. The typical duration of such projects is three to five years but there is not a defined upper limit. The budget granted by the Commission can reach several tens of million euros, paid as a fraction of the actual costs spent by the participants. • IPs specifically aim at fostering European competitiveness in
basic research and
applied science with a focus on "addressing major needs in society" defined by the Priority Themes of the Framework Programme. Like STRePs
(see below), IPs ask for a strong participation of
small or medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to ascertain the translation of research results into commercially viable products or services. • Network of Excellence (NoE) • Medium-sized research projects co-funded by the European Commission in FP6 and FP7. These projects are "designed to strengthen scientific and technological excellence on a particular research topic through the durable integration of the research capacities of the participants." • NoE projects require the minimum participation of three EU member-nations, however, the commission expected projects would usually involve at least six countries. Projects are provided grants for a maximum of seven years. The budget granted by the Commission is €1–6 million per year depending upon the number of researchers involved. Note also the FP7 Joint Technology Initiatives (JTI) in partnership with
industry. A specific action was the FIRST project, to foster cooperation in the area of internet technologies through the
European-Latin American Technology Platforms.
Horizon 2020 Horizon 2020 was the eighth framework programme (FP8) funding research, technological development, and innovation. The programme's name has been modified to "Framework Programme for Research and Innovation". an increase of 23 per cent on the previous phase. The ERC, as one component of H2020, funded 6,707 research projects worth a total of €13.3 billion. From 2013 to 2020 the EU's European Research Council assigned to UK scientists €1.7bn in grants, more than any other country. Horizon 2020 provided grants to research and innovation projects through open and competitive calls for proposals. Legal entities from any country were eligible to submit project proposals to these calls. Participation from outside the European Union was explicitly encouraged. Participants from European Union member states and countries associated to Horizon 2020 were automatically fundable. Horizon 2020 supported
open access to research results. Projects such as the
European Processor Initiative, or the
Exscalate4Cov project, were beneficiaries of Horizon 2020. Horizon 2020 was succeeded by
Horizon Europe in 2021.
Objective and pillars The framework programme's objective is to complete the
European Research Area (ERA) by coordinating national research policies and pooling research funding in some areas to avoid duplication. Horizon 2020 itself is seen as a policy instrument to implement other high-level policy initiatives of the European Union, such as
Europe 2020 and Innovation Union. The programme consists of three main research areas called "pillars": • The first pillar, "Excellent Science", focuses on basic science. It has a budget of 24 billion euro. • The second pillar is "Industrial Leadership", with a budget of 14 billion euro. It is managed by
DG Enterprise and based on Europe 2020 and Innovation Union strategies. The goal is to find ways to modernize European industries that have suffered from a fragmented European market. • The third pillar funds potential solutions to social and economic problems, "Societal challenges" (SC). The goal is implementation of solutions, less on technology development. The structure follows the previous framework programme (FP7, 2007–2013) to the level of the sub-programmes under the pillars. Horizon 2020 is also implementing the
European environmental research and innovation policy, which is aimed at defining and turning into reality a transformative agenda for greening the economy and the society as a whole so as to achieve a truly
sustainable development.
Agencies The framework programme is implemented by the
European Commission, the executive body of the
European Union. More specifically, it is implemented by various agencies, including: •
Directorate-generals (DGs) •
Directorate-General for Research and Innovation •
Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology •
Executive agencies •
Research Executive Agency (REA) •
Executive Agency for SMEs (EASME) •
ERC Executive Agency (ERCEA)
Associated countries Associated countries have signed an association agreement for the purposes of this framework programme. To date, 14 countries are associated to Horizon 2020. Participants from European Union member states and countries associated to Horizon 2020 are automatically funded.
Switzerland is considered as "partly associated" due to the
2014 referendums held by Switzerland, which free movement of workers between Switzerland and the EU was limited. Swiss organizations continue to be active participants in Horizon 2020, however, their participation is sometimes covered by national funding.
Israel is an associated country of Horizon 2020. A central point of negotiation was the funding of projects beyond the
Green Line. Israel published its views in an Appendix to the official documents.
Armenia gained the status of associated country and Armenian researchers and organizations can participate in all Horizon programs on equal footing with EU member states. == Feedback and improvements ==