PURPOSE: to establish the Specific Programme Implementing Horizon 2020 - The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2014-2020).
PROPOSED ACT: Council Decision.
BACKGROUND: designed to support the Europe 2020 Flagship Initiative "Innovation Union", the basic principle of "Horizon 2020" is to adopt a much more strategic approach to research and innovation. All policy instruments and measures are designed to contribute to research and innovation and to develop further the European Research Area whereby knowledge, researchers and technology circulate freely, and to accelerate the commercialisation and diffusion of innovation across the Single Market.
The set consists of the proposals for:
· a Framework Programme for Horizon 2020;
· a single set of Rules for Participation and Dissemination ;
· a single specific programme to implement Horizon 2020 ;
· a single proposal for the parts of Horizon 2020 corresponding to the Euratom Treaty.
Horizon 2020 will bring together all existing EU research and innovation funding currently provided through the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP), the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP) and the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT). The different types of funding provided by the existing programmes will be brought together into a single coherent, flexible framework, which will run from 2014 to 2020. It will provide funding for every stage of the innovation process from basic research to market uptake, in line with the EU's commitments under the "Innovation Union".
IMPACT ASSESSMENT: the four proposals rely on two in-depth impact assessments, drawing on stakeholder consultations, internal and external evaluations, and contributions from international experts. The assessments found that the Horizon 2020 option would bring more clarity of focus, best achieve the necessary critical mass of effort at programme and project level, and lead to the greatest impact on the policy objectives and downstream economic, competitiveness, and social benefits, while at the same time helping to simplify matters by easing the administrative burden for participants, streamlining the applicable rules and procedures, ensuring consistency between instruments and pointing to a new risk/trust balance.
LEGAL BASIS: Article 182(4) TFEU.
CONTENT: while Horizon 2020 sets out the general objective of that Framework Programme, this proposal aims to establish the specific programme implementing Horizon 2020 for the period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020. It determines the specific objectives for Union support to the research and innovation activities as well as the rules for implementation.
The specific programme shall consist of four Parts, the first three relating to indirect actions:
Part I “Excellent science”: this will support the activities of the European Research Council on frontier research, future and emerging technologies, Marie Curie Actions and European research infrastructures. These activities should aim at building competence in the long term, focusing strongly on the next-generation of science, systems and researchers, and providing support for emerging talent from across the Union and from associated countries. Union activities to support excellent science should help consolidate the European Research Area and make the Union’s science system more competitive and attractive on a global scale.
A budget of EUR 27.818 billion will strengthen the EU's position as a world leader in science. This will include:
· EUR 15.008 billion for the highly successful European Research Council (ERC), which provides substantial grants to top-level individual researchers working in Europe.
· Investment of EUR 3.505 billion in future and emerging technologies (FET) to open up new fields of research and innovation.
· A budget of EUR 6.503 billion for the Marie Curie Actions to develop research and innovation skills through the training, mobility and career development of researchers.
· Funding of EUR 2.802 billion will also be available for supporting access to, and networking of priority research infrastructures across Europe.
Part II “Industrial leadership”: in order to increase the Union's industrial leadership there is an urgent need to stimulate private sector research and development and innovation investment, promote research and innovation with a business driven agenda and accelerate the development of new technologies which will underpin future businesses and economic growth. Part II "Industrial leadership" should support investments in excellent research and innovation in key enabling technologies and other industrial technologies, facilitate access to risk finance for innovative companies and projects, and provide Union wide support for innovation in small and medium-sized enterprises.
This Part of Horizon 2020 has a budget of EUR 27.818 million allocated as follows:
· Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies: EUR 15.580 of which EUR 500 million for the EIT (including EUR 8.975.000.000 for information and communication technologies (ICT), of which EUR 1.588.000.000 for photonics and micro-and nanoelectronics, EUR 4293 million for nanotechnologies, advanced materials and advanced manufacturing and processing, EUR 575 million for biotechnology and EUR 1737 million for space.
· Access to risk finance : EUR 4.000 millions;
· Innovation in SMEs : EUR 700 millions.
Part III “Societal challenges”: this Part should increase the effectiveness of research and innovation in responding to key societal challenges by supporting excellent research and innovation activities. Those activities should be implemented using a challenge- based approach, which brings together resources and knowledge across different fields, technologies and disciplines. Social sciences and humanities research is an important element for addressing all of the challenges. The activities should cover the full range of research and innovation with an emphasis on innovation-related activities such as piloting, demonstration, test-beds, and support for public procurement, pre-normative research and standard setting, and market uptake of innovations. The activities should support directly the corresponding sectoral policy competences at Union level. All challenges should contribute to the overarching objective of sustainable development.
This Part of Horozon 2020 has a budget of EUR 35.888 million allocated as follows:
· Health, demographic change and well-being : EUR 9 077 million of which EUR 292 million for the EIT.
· Food security, sustainable agriculture durable, marine anf maritime research and the et bio-economy : EUR 4 694 million of which EUR 150 million for the EIT ;
· Secure clean and efficient energy: EUR 6.537 million of which EUR 210 million for the EIT ;
· Smart, green and integrated transport : EUR 7.690 million of which EUR 247 million for the EIT.
· Climate action, resource efficiency and raw materials : EUR 3.573 millions of which EUR 115 million for the EIT.
· Inclusive, innovative and secure societies : EUR 4.317 million of which EUR 138 millions for the EIT.
Part IV "Non-nuclear direct actions of the Joint Research Centre" (EUR 2.210 million) has the specific objective of providing customer-driven scientific and technical support to Union policies.
BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS: the financial envelope for the implementation of the specific programme shall be. EUR 87.740.000.000 of which a maximum of EUR 86.198.000.000 is allocated to activities under Title XIX of the TFEU.
DELEGATED ACTS: the power to adopt acts in accordance with Article 290 TFEU will be delegated to the Commission to adapt or further elaborate the performance indicators corresponding to the specific objectives of the specific programme and the specific conditions for use of the finance facilities.