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Research and innovation

How Horizon Europe was developed

How the Commission's proposal for Horizon Europe was designed, legal framework, factsheets and reports.

The development process

In 2018 the Commission proposed an ambitious €100 billion research and innovation programme - Horizon Europe - to succeed Horizon 2020. 

The European Parliament and the Council of the EU reached in March and April 2019 a provisional agreement on Horizon Europe. The European Parliament endorsed the provisional agreement on 17 April 2019.

The EU institutions reached a political agreement on Horizon Europe on 11 December 2020 and set the budget for Horizon Europe at €95.5 billion in current prices (including €5.4 billion from the Next Generation of the EU – Recovery Fund). On this basis, the European Parliament and the Council of the EU proceed towards the adoption of the legal acts.

Image describing the structure of Horizon Europe and Euratom. 3 pillars - Excellent science, global challenges and industrial competitiveness and innovative europe.

The Commission's proposal for Horizon Europe

The Commission initially proposed an ambitious €100 billion research and innovation programme to succeed Horizon 2020.

The proposal was made as part of the EU's proposal for the next EU long-term budget, the multiannual financial framework (MFF).

Various building blocks were taken into account including the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020, the Lab-Fab-App report (informally the Lamy report), foresight studies and various other reports. 

Legal texts, factsheets and video

Reports and materials that shaped the proposal

Evaluating Horizon 2020

To make an effective proposal, the Commission built on what has been learned from Horizon 2020.

Mission-oriented policy

More studies and reports on missions

Foresight scenarios 

BOHEMIA  is an extensive, systematic, multi-year study that set out various future scenarios and recommendations for research and innovation policy.

Economic rationale 

Analysis to set out the economic rationale for public R&Iinvestments and their impact on growth and jobs carried out by the Commission.

Involving citizens in setting priorities for the next framework programme

Report by the Democratic Society on involving citizens in the next framework programme

Report of the high level group on the European Innovation Council

Europe is back: Accelerating breakthrough innovation recommendations on how a European Innovation Council (EIC) should be set up to fund and nurture breakthrough innovation.

Public input to the proposal