Policy Context
European funding is a complex matter. We help you to understand the policy context of the Horizon Europe programme.
Strategic dimension – Flemish government
The various work programmes with calls for proposals are drafted by several Programme Committees consisting of delegates of the participating countries in Horizon Europe & Digital Europe.
Representatives from the Department of Economy, Science and Innovation (EWI) inform on the drafting process and collect input from stakeholders located in Flanders to bring it on the Belgian and European level, which results in a concrete work programme. This input can typically consist of suggestions for new topics, requests for adaptations on scale or content of proposed projects.
Contact details of Horizon Europe programme committee delegates are available here. Contact details of the Digital Europe programme committee delegate are available here.
Strategic dimension Horizon Europe – European Commission
In 2023, the Commission organised a public consultation on the past, present, and future of the European Research and Innovation Framework programmes. The insights gained from the consultation provide valuable input and will feed into the ongoing strategic planning process for the next Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027, which was launched in Autumn 2022, and into the preparations of the next Framework Programme for Research & Innovation (FP10).
The strategic plan defines the orientations for the Horizon Europe programme (mainly for Pillar II) and outlines the contributions of its various parts. These orientations mirror the political priorities of the European Union, outline the way research and innovation can address them and enable the Commission to better measure impact. The Strategic Plan 2025-2027 is expected to be adopted beginning of 2024. Find out more here.
In September 2023, EWI published a ‘Flemish reflection paper on the tenth European Framework Programme for R&I’ as a contribution to the preparation of the next Framework Programme.
Horizon Europe Monitoring by the Commission
- Horizon Europe programme analysis page : Horizon Europe programme analysis (europa.eu)
- Results of recent public consultation (concluded on 23/2/23) on the future of EU research & innovation programmes: The results of the public consultation on the future of EU Research and Innovation programmes are now public (europa.eu)
- First report on the performance of European Partnerships under Horizon Europe: First report on the performance of European Partnerships under Horizon Europe (europa.eu)
- First assessment of EU Missions: Horizon Europe: EU Missions (europa.eu)
Testimonial
Autoship - a new and durable way of freight transport
Autoship is, as the name suggests, an acronym for autonomous ship. Just like with self-driving cars, the possibilities of an unmanned boat seem endless. It can create more efficient freight transport, around the clock deliveries and these are just a few of the examples. The project has two societal challenges.
At first, De Vlaamse Waterweg was a bit hesitant as their experience with FP7 or Horizon 2020 projects was limited and they had not been very successful up until then. The fact that they were already doing basic research on the topic of autonomous boats, and the administrative help of NCP FLanders helped De Vlaamse waterweg to cross the line and get involved.
