HORIZON 2020 is the central European framework program for research and innovation. With a budget of around EUR 75 billion and a term of seven years (2014-2020), it is one of the largest public funding programs in the world.

Programme areas

1. Scientific excellence:

• European Research Council (ERC)
• Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
• Marie-Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA)
• Research Infrastructures

2. Industrial Leadership: 

• Information and Communication Technology
• Nanotechnology, Materials, Biotechnology, Product Engineering

3. Societal challenges

• Health, demographic change and welfare
• Challenges of the Bio-economy
• Safe, clean and efficient energy
• Intelligent, green and integrated transport
• Climate protection, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials
• Europe in a changing world
• Secure societies

4. Cross-cutting areas:

• Spreading excellence and widening participation
• Science with and for Society

EU Funding and Tenders Portal

Access to all information, application forms, project management and further subjects can be found via the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.

Rules of participation

The following rules apply for applicants to HORIZON 2020:

Minimum number of participants

• For collaborative research (Research and Innovation Actions, Innovation Actions):
  • Work with at least 2 international partners (separate legal entities) from different EU countries (at least 3 in total)
• For Coordination & Support Actions and Training & Mobility actions (Marie Skłodowska Curie-Actions):
  • A partner that is a legal entity established in an EU Member State or Horizon 2020-associated country.
• For the European Research Council (ERC):
  • One legal entity; the Principal Investigator may be of any nationality

Exploiting and disseminating project results

• Under Horizon 2020, beneficiaries should engage in dissemination and exploitation activities. As Horizon 2020 is financed by EU citizens, it should benefit to the largest number and the fruits of the research reach society as a whole. This obligation is limited by the overriding protection of intellectual property, security aspects or other legitimate interests.
• Publications should be available by Open Access.

Exceptions and special regulations are indicated in the individual calls.