Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s (EU) key funding framework for research and innovation, tackling climate change, helping to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosting the EU’s competitiveness and growth. Between 2021 and 2027, the European Union has earmarked €95.5B for its work programmes, which are grouped under three pillars:
- Pillar 1: Excellent science – supports advanced research training, breakthrough innovations and research infrastructure. For Western researchers, funding from this pillar will be primarily involve research fellowships at European institutions.
- Pillar 2: Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness – includes six thematic clusters, each tackling a specific and broad societal issue and strengthening Europe's industrial competitiveness. The vast majority of Western researchers will apply to funding opportunities under the second pillar.
- Pillar 3: Innovative Europe – supports breakthrough innovations and collaboration between industry, academia and the public sector. Western researchers planning on entering into enterprise in the EU can look to funding opportunities under this pillar.
As an associate country, Canada can apply for any program under any of its three pillars, but only Pillar 2 has co-funding mechanisms with the Government of Canada. Additionally, the European Comission have targeted the following research areas under Pillar 2 for Canadian collaboration:
- Digital, Industry and Space (Cluster 4)
- Climate, Energy & Mobility (Cluster 5)
- Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment (Cluster 6)
All grants under Pillar 2 are consortium-based grants, requiring a minimum of three international partner institutions, one of which must be from a EU member state.
Contact
For more information about how Western researchers can apply for Horizon Europe funding calls and what kind of supports are available, please contact the Institutional Research Programs team.
