Horizon Europe

The European Commission has published its proposal for the next European Research and Innovation Framework Programme – Horizon Europe – on 7 June 2018. The proposal foresees €100 billion for Horizon Europe (2021 – 2027), with tackling climate change at the top of the agenda with a budgetary target of 35%.

The important information is that the three-pillar-structure of Horizon 2020 will remain. The current proposal divides the budget as follows:

Pillar I ‘Open Science’: (European Research Council (ERC), Marie Skłodowska - Curie actions (MSCA), Research Infrastructures): €25.8 bn 

Pillar II ‘Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness’: Five Clusters
– Digital, Industry and Space (29%)  / Climate, Energy and Mobility (28%) / Food, Natural Resources and Agriculture (16%) / Health (15%) / Inclusive and creative Society (4%) / Joint Research Centre (4%) / Secure Societies (4%):  €52.7 bn

Pillar III ‘Open Innovation’:
European Innovation Council (EIC), European Innovation Ecosystems, European
Institute of Technology and Innovation (EIT): €13.5 bn

The remaining €8 bn are allocated to Euratom (€2.1 bn), Widening Partnerships & ERA (€2.1bn) and InvestEU (€3.5 bn). The final budget will be determined as part of negotiations with the member states related to the “Multi-Annual Financial Framework (MFF).

Switzerland’s current status:
According to article 12 (a) of the proposal of the regulation laying down the rules for participation in Horizon Europe, countries that are not EU-members, member candidates nor are associated through the EU neighborhood policy must be members of EEA and EFTA in order to be fully associated to Horizon Europe. As an EFTA but not an EEA member, Switzerland currently has the status of a third country.

The SERI (State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation) officially confirms in its fact sheet from 20 June 2019 that the negotiations with the EU are aimed at a full association with Horizon Europe and that it is positive about it. However, the European Commission has not yet started negotiations with third countries and the BREXIT might lead to further delay. At the moment, it is therefore unclear how researchers in Switzerland will be able to participate in Horizon Europe. The Grants Offices in Switzerland are regularly informed by SwissCore and SERI about the state of play. We will keep you informed about the developments.