Horizon Europe

With the Research Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, the European Commission funds projects ranging from basic research to market launch - both open-topic and within the framework of thematic clusters and missions.

Pro­gramme struc­ture

Three pillars form the structure of Horizon Europe. The "scientific excellence" pillar includes the funding programmes of the European Research Council (ERC), the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) and funding for research infrastructures that can be used throughout Europe. Funding under the first pillar is open to all topics.

In the second pillar "Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness", collaborative projects are funded in six thematic clusters. The aim is to develop solutions for major societal challenges, including digital transformation and adaptation to climate change.

The third pillar, "Innovative Europe", bundles funding to support innovation. The European Innovation Council (EIC) supports both ground-breaking basic research and the further development of innovative technologies through to market launch.

There is a fourth overarching part of the programme that deals with the expansion of participation in the framework programme and the strengthening of the European Research Area (ERA).

"Missions" are new to Horizon Europe. These are interdisciplinary R&I instruments that pursue ambitious European goals. They are anchored in the "Strategic Plan" of Horizon Europe, run for a maximum of 10 years alongside the regular programme calls and are intended to create synergies with other programme instruments.

Pro­gramme areas

ERC - European Re­search Coun­cil

The ERC funds ground-breaking project ideas from outstanding scientists in all fields of research. The decisive evaluation criterion is the scientific excellence of the submitted research project and the applicant. The funding lines are adapted to different career stages.

MSCA - Mar­ie Skłodowska-Curie Ac­tions

The Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions have been institutionalised by the European Commission to promote transnational and cross-sectoral mobility and career development of researchers and to increase the attractiveness of scientific careers.

Them­at­ic clusters

Collaborative research in Pillar 2 is organised in 6 thematic clusters:
- Health
- Culture, creativity and inclusive society
- Civil security for society
- Digitalisation, industry and space
- Climate, energy and mobility
- Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and the environment

EIC - European In­nov­a­tion Coun­cil

The European Innovation Council brings together key innovation funding instruments in Horizon Europe with the aim of driving market-creating innovations that pave the way for radically new, ground-breaking products, services, processes and business models.

Symbolbild: Europakarte mit Pinnadeln, die mit Fäden miteinander verbunden sind.

Ex­pand­ing par­ti­cip­a­tion and strength­en­ing the European Re­search Area

In order to effectively utilise the full potential of the European Research Area, the aim is to involve countries with low research and innovation performance to a greater extent.

Mis­sions

For the first time under Horizon Europe, missions are being set up as EU-wide research and development instruments. They are intended to tackle ambitious goals to overcome current societal challenges through interdisciplinary innovation.

Gloss­ary

Horizon Europe is implemented on the basis of work programmes. As a rule, there are two-year work programmes. In addition to the priorities and objectives of the programme, the work programmes contain information on the objectives of the measures for the planned calls for proposals (calls/topics) and on specific participation rules. The "General Annex" also contains generally binding information on the application process and implementation (e.g. on the evaluation of project proposals and funding quotas).

The Horizon Europe Rules for Participation define at the legislative level who may participate in the Horizon Europe Framework Programme and under what conditions. They also contain additional information on budget, financial instruments, open access, evaluation, eligibility of costs and intellectual property, among other things.

In collaborative projects, a consortium agreement is concluded in addition to the grant agreement. This is a contract under private law that is concluded between the partners to regulate the relationship between the partners.

The following points should be regulated in the consortium agreement:

- the internal organisation of the consortium
- access to and authorisations for electronic project processing in the Funding & Tenders Portal
- the distribution of the community's financial contribution
- supplementary rules for the dissemination and use of intellectual property and access rights to intellectual property
- rules for settling internal disputes, including cases of abuse of power
- liability, indemnification and confidentiality agreements between the participants

Our legal advisor Christina Nolte will advise you on the conclusion of the consortium agreement.

All information on Horizon Europe can be found in the European Commission's "Funding and Tenders Portal". The submission of applications, the signing of the grant agreement and the processing of an approved project are also carried out entirely electronically via this portal.

After registration (if possible with a UPB e-mail address), applications can be created and submitted. The Participant Identification Code (PIC) is required for this.

UPB PIC: 999837492

You can use a role management system to grant the staff of the Research Unit access to your application. This enables us to provide you with the best possible advice and support. Please do not hesitate to contact us!

Once an application has been positively evaluated, a grant agreement is concluded between the European Commission and the coordinator. In collaborative projects, the partners join the grant agreement via the so-called "Accession Form".

All legal and financial regulations for the realisation of the projects are listed in the grant agreement. In addition, several annexes are part of the grant agreement, including, for example, the project description (analogous to the application | Annex 1) and the budget plan (Annex 2) and other supplementary information and forms.
Depending on the programme area and funding format, different regulations are used in the grant agreement.

The regulations of the Grant Agreement can be found in the so-called Model Grant Agreement. There is also an "Annotated Model Grant Agreement" in which the interpretation of the regulations is explained and illustrated with examples.

Further information can be found in the Funding and Tenders Portal under Reference Documents.

In order to provide German applicants with the best possible support, there are advice centres commissioned by the Federal Government - the National Contact Points (NCPs).

This network of advice centres provides contacts and experts for all programme areas and legal issues. The National Contact Points regularly offer webinars on participation opportunities and funding conditions. In many programme areas, an application check is also offered and the NCP ERC provides interview training for applicants to the ERC.

The system of National Contact Points can be found in all member states and associated countries.

The Strategic Plan sets out the strategic policy priorities for Horizon Europe and the intended impact. It forms the basis for the work programmes and call topics. Closely aligned with the political priorities of the European Union, the Strategic Plan focuses on the green and digital transitions. There will be two Strategic Plans in total, one for the first four years and another for the remaining three years of the Horizon Europe programme.

Ser­vice of the Re­search Unit

Our service for your application includes

  • Researching suitable funding opportunities for your project
  • Advice on the suitability of the project for the selected funding line
  • Feedback on the structure and persuasiveness of your proposal from a non-technical perspective
  • Feedback with regard to suitability and consistency with the requirements of the funding body
  • Advice on financial planning
  • Advice on cross-cutting issues

Con­tact per­sons

Jutta Deppe

Answers your questions during the application process for all Horizon Europe programme areas.

Dr. Kath­ar­ina Koenig

Answers your questions during the application process for all Horizon Europe programme areas.

Christina Nolte

Answers your questions about concluding a consortium agreement.

Grants and Ex­tern­al Fund­ing

If you have any questions about third-party funding that has already been approved, please get in touch with the contact persons in grants and external funding (Department 2.3).