Why the EU supports environment research and innovation
European research and innovation is key for combating climate change, implementing green industrial policy and achieving sustainable development.
Becoming the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050 will not be possible without an ambitious agenda linking research, innovation and investments with reforms and regulations in order to mobilise collective action for climate.
Science is the foundation of evidence-based policies. Research and innovation will drive, navigate and accelerate the European Green Deal and green recovery by setting the direction, testing and delivering solutions, addressing trade-offs and ensuring policy coherence.
Under the research and innovation programme Horizon Europe (2021-2027), new powerful tools – partnerships and missions – will greatly contribute to the Green Deal’s ambitions.
Citizens will be strongly involved in creating and implementing green solutions.
In September 2020 the EU launched a €1 billion Green Deal call under Horizon 2020 to address the urgency of climate action and green recovery.
Policy focus
Funding opportunities
Horizon Europe
On this page you can find more information, the work programme and a link to the environment-related calls
Recovery and resilience facility
Loans and grants available to support reforms and investments undertaken by EU countries for a sustainable recovery
LIFE
Co-financing for climate change mitigation and adaptation research, supporting the transition to a low-carbon and climate-resilient economy
European Structural and Investment Funds
Environment research related calls may be found in this programme, particularly in the European regional development fund.
Innovation Fund
Funding for demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies
COST actions
COST (European cooperation in science and technology) funds bottom-up, open research and innovation networks
Projects and results
Environment results packs
Thematic collections of innovative EU-funded environment research results (CORDIS)
Research project database
The Commission's primary portal for the results of EU-funded environment research projects
Project success stories
Stories of particularly successful EU-funded environment research projects
Horizon magazine
Latest news, interviews and features about thought-provoking science and innovative research projects funded by the EU
CINEA project portfolio
Dashboard presenting details of all grant agreements managed by the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA). Data includes EU contribution by country, number of projects and beneficiaries
Horizon 2020 dashboard
Access to real-time programme data with the ability to filter by country, region, theme and more
Horizon Results Platform
Platform where framework programme participants present their results for you to search, contact their owners, and form partnerships
Collaboration and jobs
JPI Climate
Joint Programming initiative aligning national programmes by jointly coordinating their climate research and funding new transnational research activities.
Belmont Forum
Partnership of funding organisations, international science councils, and regional consortia advancing transdisciplinary science and environmental change research
Science Technology and Innovation Forum on the Sustainable Development Goals
Multi-stakeholder forum on science, technology and innovation for the Sustainable Development Goals in which the Commission actively participates
Urban agenda for the EU
Includes a partnership on sustainable land use and nature-based solutions
Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area (PRIMA)
Joint programme developing solutions to manage water and agri-food systems more sustainably in the Mediterranean
Oppla community and marketplace
Networking opportunities and marketplace to promote the output of your project or network
Jobs (EURAXESS)
Researcher jobs in the field of nature-based solutions
Find project partners
Find partners for open EU calls for proposal
Scientific publications, tools and databases
EU publications portal
Online library of EU research publications on environment research
Biodiversity information system for Europe (BISE)
Data and information on biodiversity supporting the EU biodiversity strategy
Scientific publications
Scientific environment research publications published by the European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Environment research tools and databases
The Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) compiles databases and develops software and modelling tools. You can access environment research related ones here
EU Open Data Portal
Single point of access to open data produced by the EU institutions - all data free to use for commercial and non-commercial purposes
OpenAIRE
You can access all scientific publications from Horizon 2020 via OpenAIRE
Science for environment policy newsletter
Commission news service covering the latest environmental research findings to support evidence-based policymaking
By helping us understand how the climate system works and how it will change over time, climate science is fundamental for making informed and wise decisions about reducing emissions and adapting to a changing climate.
Achieving the objectives of the European Green Deal requires a circular and sustainable bioeconomy. Research and innovation (R&I) plays an essential role in enabling and accelerating this transition, unlocking new ways of producing and consuming that respect planetary boundaries and life on earth.
Latest
Save the date: The Research & Innovation Week to take place from 18 to 21 March 2024 in Brussels
The Research and Innovation Week (R&I Week) is the 2024 European Commission’s flagship event on research and innovation which will take place between 18 and 21 March 2024 in Tour & Taxis (Brussels, Belgium).
Commissioner Ivanova at the One Planet - One Polar Summit in Paris: the European Union a worldwide player in polar research
Research and innovation news alert: has reaffirmed the important role of the EU as a major player in global polar research.
Innovation Fund announces two upcoming calls for proposals
On 23 November 2023, the Commission will open two calls for proposals to accelerate the deployment of innovative technologies in Europe. Together, the calls will make up to €4.8 billion available for industry and clean tech players in Europe.
