Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020 was the predecessor of Horizon Europe. Both are the European Union’s Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation. They fund research in all areas of science and innovation.
What is Horizon 2020?
Horizon 2020 is running from 2014 until the end of 2020 with a budget of about €77 billion.
It is the financial instrument that is helping to ensure that Europe produces world-class science, removes barriers to innovation and makes it easier for the public and private sectors to work together in delivering innovation.
How is Horizon 2020 structured
The Horizon 2020 programme has three main priorities, that are called "pillars“, 1) Excellent science, 2) Industrial Leadership and 3) the Societal Challenges, each with a set of specific objectives. Besides the three pillars there are two specific programmes “Science with and for society” and “widening participation”, next to a cross-cutting programme. Besides there are also Focus areas or cross-cutting activities which are specific new challenges.
Funding opportunities under Horizon 2020 are set out in multiannual work programmes.
The current main Horizon 2020 work programme comprises an introduction, 18 thematic sections and the general annexes describing general rules such as standard admissibility conditions and eligibility criteria, selection and award criteria, etc.
Of each Horizon 2020 programme a Work programme is edited containing the background and specific calls.
In the Horizon 2020 tab in the menu on this website more information per programme is given with links to policy related information, to the work programmes, specific events, etc.
Horizon 2020 is part of the bigger picture of the European landscape for research and innovation, which also embraces public-public partnerships (as JPI's), European Innovation Platforms and European Technology Platforms. More details of some of these programmes are elaborated on Other EU Funding.
How to start
Application to a Horizon 2020 call implies 4 major steps: 1/ Find a suitable call for proposal; 2/ Find project partners; 3/ Create an account on the portal; and 4/ Register your organisation. Read about this process in more detail.
NCP Flanders can give you support during your application process and provides basic information and tips and tricks to support you with writing your proposal.
Latest news
Horizon Europe HorizonEU L+F Horizon 2020
Annual report on implementation of the EU budget for the financial year 20...
The European Court of Auditors (ECA) audits the revenue and expenditure of the EU budget and delivers its opinion on the extent to which the annual accounts are reliable, and income and spending comply with the rules and regulations. This year it includes findings from Horizon 2020 audits but also from some Horizon Europe audits. In chapter 5 (Sin... read more
Upcoming events
Infosheets
Infosheets contain edited content on aspects related to this programme. They are reviewed at least yearly.
Related links
Related links are easy pointers towards external information. We curate the list, but are not liable for the destinations.
- Horizon Dashboard statistics on cross-cutting issues in Horizon 2020
- Assessment of Lump Sum Pilot 2018-2020 by COM
- Citizen science factsheet
- EU Research and Innovation Success Stories
- UK participation in Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 - UKRO infosheet
- Orientations towards the first Strategic Plan for Horizon Europe
- Scientific Advice to European Policy in a Complex World – DG RTD - 26.09.2019
- Horizon Europe- Report rapporteur Dan Nica
- Horizon Europe Implementation Strategy
- Horizon 2020 online manual
- Horizon Europe- Report rapporteur Christian Ehler
- Transitions on the Horizon: Perspectives for the European Union's future research and innovation policies
- Horizon Europe - factsheets
- Workprogramme 18-20 - General Annexes
- General Introduction Workprogramme 18-20
- Focus Areas
- PCP-PPI - a horizon 2020 instrument
- 4 steps procedure Horizon 2020 application
Documents
Documents contain additional information related to this programme, and are similar to related links.
- Gender Dimension in Horizon Europe proposals
- For Beginners - services
- For Beginners - legal and financial aspects
- For Beginners - evaluation process
- For Beginners - general introduction
- The European green Deal - presentation by DG RTD - 18-05-2020
- OVERVIEW DOCUMENT HORIZON 2020 GREEN DEAL CALL TOPICS
- Dissemination&exploitation - tips and tricks
- Information Sheet Horizon Results Platform
- Horizon Europe Implementation Strategy (30.04.2020)
- Funded Research projects on Coronavirus from call topic SC1-PHE-CORONAVIRUS-2020
- Corona/COVID - Solidarity with Europe – JRC science to tackle the coronavirus crisis
- Prizes in Horizon 2020 – an overview
- Dissemination and Exploitation under H2020 Brussels - 22 October 2019 - Presentation
- NCP Flanders - overview topics H2020 Workprogramme 18-20 (21.10.2019 Update!)
- No-deal scenario Brexit and H2020
- WP 2019 and 2020: publication and info days
- DG RTD New Organigram
- Successful participation of stakeholders in Flanders in Horizon 2020
- H2020 Coördinators'Day - 21.09.2018 - Grant Agreement Preparation
- Funding and tender portal- what's new?
- Presentations - Health NCP Net 2.0 Training 18-19 October 2018
- European Reseach and Innovation Lanscape
- H2020 for beginners 21.02.2018 - presentations infosession
- Focus Areas Workprogramme 18-20
- Horizon 2020 for beginners
- Presentation Horizon 2020 in Flanders-past and future - J. Hanssens
- Presentation BOHEMIA report-G.Giuffrè-ISSINOVA
Testimonial
EURHISFIRM - Long-term data for Europe
EURHISFIRM designs a world-class research infrastructure (RI) to connect, collect, collate, align, and share detailed, reliable, and standardized long-term financial, governance, and geographical data on European companies. EURHISFIRM enables researchers, policymakers, and other stakeholders to develop and evaluate effective strategies to promote investment, economic growth and job creation. The RI provides the tools for long-term analysis highlighting the dynamics of the past and the way those dynamics structure our present and future.
The EURHISFIRM European project received € 3.4 million in financing from the European Commission through the H2020-INFRADEV-2017-1 research infrastructures call. The project started with a consortium of eleven research organisations (including University of Antwerp) from seven European countries.
