The European Commission is launching a brand new edition of the Horizon Impact Award, a prize dedicated to EU-funded projects whose results have created societal impact across Europe and beyond. The prize acknowledges and rewards the most influential and impactful project results under Horizon 2020 (2014-2020), the EU research and innovation programme, and its predecessor, the 7th Framework Programme (FP7, 2007-2013).
After the success of the pilot editions in 2019 and 2020, Horizon Impact Award 2022 returns with an increased monetary prize and more winners. The 2022 edition will now have six champions that will each receive €25 000.
Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel said:
We want to highlight the importance of ensuring that research, innovation and science translate into concrete benefits for the citizens and society. Horizon Impact Award puts the spotlight on projects and the people behind them that have contributed towards transformative impacts on the economy, society and policymaking – leading to advancements across different fields. I look forward to seeing many excellent examples of how EU-funded research contributes to shaping a better world.
The prize will highlight concrete achievements that have a demonstrable value for society, and will celebrate the people who made it happen. The contest is open only to FP7 and Horizon 2020 projects that have ended by the close of the contest and that can provide proof of their impact. Each of the six winners will receive €25 000.
The contest is open for applications until 8 March 2022. The winners will be announced at a dedicated award ceremony in Brussels in 2022.
Background
This prize aims to illustrate the wider socio-economic benefits of EU investment in research and innovation and to encourage and inspire project beneficiaries to use their research results to create value for the society at large.
The winning projects from 2020 contributed to the aims of the European Green Deal, generated a new technological field with potential applications in a wide range of industries, helped to improve the quality of life for children with end-stage heart failure pending heart transplant operations, created environmental and policy impact by protecting the marine ecosystem and contributed to the preservation of European cultural and historical heritage.
The winning projects from 2019 have come up with a new drug for a rare disease, helped prevent child abuse, increased security of browsing the web, developed an energy-efficient humidification system and protected coastal areas against the effects of climate change.
More information
Details
- Publication date
- 6 January 2022
- Author
- Directorate-General for Research and Innovation