EU research and innovation: deal on Horizon Europe is a key step

Today, EU decision-makers have concluded negotiations on the architecture of Horizon Europe, the next flagship EU programme for research and innovation. The programme is key to place Europe on track of the global innovation race.

BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer said: “Today’s agreement on the EU budget architecture for Horizon Europe is a very important step forward. The preparatory steps to have the programme ready by January 2021 can now start.

We now expect tough negotiations on the EU’s 2021-2027 overall budget to come and we urge decision-makers not to sacrifice research and innovation and to raise the Horizon Europe budget to at least €120 billion. Two out of three companies are telling us that the programme will be an incentive to increase their R&I investments in the next five years.”

The deal includes important features for business such as public-private partnerships bringing together different actors, the European Innovation Council which will foster risk-taking and the missions that will break down the silos and set overarching innovation objectives.