Council reaches agreement on Horizon 2020

Thursday 31 May 2012

On 31 May, the European ministers for Research and Innovation (R&D) reached an agreement on the overall structure of Horizon 2020, the EU's coming Framework programme for R&D.

The agreement on the overall structure of Horizon 2020 will strengthen research and innovation as growth promoters in Europe. Besides strengthening basic excellent research, Horizon 2020 will mark a new and challenge-driven approach towards strategic research in the EU, focusing on seven grand challenges, such as food security, climate change, an ageing population and the need for intelligent transportation.

Compared to the Commission’s proposal, the agreement reached by the Ministers has an even stronger emphasis on interdisciplinarity.

Furthermore, the agreement strengthens simplification and reduces bureaucracy, which will make it easier and more attractive for small and medium-sized enterprises to apply for EU funding.

The negotiations on the budget allocation to the various specific programmes of Horizon 2020 will start soon and will be followed by discussions in the European Parliament.

www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/docs/pressdata/en/intm/130562.pdf