Horizon Europe, the EU’s premier research and innovation programme, has brought impressive returns in the middle of its seven-year run.
According to the European Commission’s interim assessment, the Horizon Europe program is expected to return social value of up to 6 euros and GDP growth rate of 11 euros to up to 6 euros by 2045.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, committee member of start-ups, research and innovation, commented:
“Its strong returns and measurable economic impacts clearly demonstrate its success and will truly benefit citizens across the EU.
“We must continue to seek greater impact and ensure that Europe leads research and innovation.
“Our commitment is to make EU research and innovation funding simpler, more focused and even more transformative.”
Promote innovation and economic growth
With a budget of 93.5 billion euros, Horizon Europe is at the heart of the EU’s strategy to increase competitiveness and sustainability.
By early 2025, over 15,000 projects have already been funded, accounting for more than 43 billion euros in investment.
These initiatives range from deploying hydrogen-powered buses in European cities to developing life-saving antibiotics and accessible artificial intelligence tools for researchers.
The economic impact of the program is important. The innovative companies supported through the European Council of Innovation (EIC) fund have been successful in triplicate with EU investments from private aiders.
This public-private synergy marks a major milestone in fostering EU-based startups and scale-ups.
Promoting scientific excellence
Horizon Europe continues to raise its European status as a groundbreaking research hub.
Approximately 80% of projects funded by the European Research Council (ERC) have led to major scientific breakthroughs.
Since the EU’s research programme began in 1984, supported researchers have won 35 Nobel Prizes.
Filling the gaps in member countries
One of Horizon Europe’s key achievements is increasing participation from low-performing countries known as “expanding” countries.
These countries currently account for 58% of joint projects. This is a notable jump from 47% under the previous Horizon 2020 initiative, helping to build a more comprehensive research environment.
Simplify Horizon Europe access and cut red tape
The committee also introduced lump sum grants to simplify the funding process by eliminating complex financial reports.
These grants are estimated to reduce administrative burdens by up to 30% and save €63 million so far, making them particularly beneficial for small businesses and new participants.
Insights from this assessment are planned to shape future Horizon Europe Work programs, simplify applications, expand innovation, and enhance research collaboration.
Future startup and scale-up strategies and new strategies such as European Innovation Act will further position the EU as a global leader in science and technology.
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