Council Decision (EU) 2021/764: Establishing the Specific Programme Implementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Progr...

Brussels, BEL, Belgium (BEL)20 March 2024 Agreements Multilateral

Executive Summary

The European Commission, under Council Decision (EU) 2021/764 and its 2024 Implementing Decision, has adopted the 2025-2027 strategic research and innovation plan for Horizon Europe, the EU’s flagship Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. This multiannual plan ensures alignment between EU and national priorities, supports rapid responses to emerging challenges, and covers a broad range of activities across four main pillars: Excellent Science, Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Innovative Europe, and Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (ERA). Key objectives include fostering scientific excellence, supporting breakthrough innovations, addressing societal and global challenges (such as health, climate, digitalization, and security), and enhancing collaboration and inclusivity across Europe. The plan emphasizes open science, gender equality, international cooperation, and the effective dissemination and exploitation of research results, with a total budget exceeding €83 billion for 2021-2027.

Characteristics

  • The 2025-2027 strategic research and innovation plan under Horizon Europe is adopted to guide the implementation of the EU’s main research and innovation programme, ensuring alignment with EU and national priorities, and providing flexibility to respond to emerging challenges and opportunities. [2024]
  • The Specific Programme implementing Horizon Europe (2021-2027) is structured into four main parts: Excellent Science, Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Innovative Europe, and Widening Participation and Strengthening the ERA, each with defined operational objectives and activities. [2021]
  • Key features include a multiannual strategic plan (max. 4 years) to ensure coherence, flexibility, and rapid response to new challenges; strong focus on climate action (at least 35% of funding), digital transformation, and support for SMEs and innovative companies.
  • Governance involves the European Commission, Programme Committees, the European Research Council (ERC), the European Innovation Council (EIC), and mission boards, with extensive stakeholder and Member State involvement in planning and implementation.
  • The programme emphasizes open science, international cooperation, gender equality, responsible research and innovation, and the integration of social sciences and humanities across all clusters.
  • Funding is distributed across thematic clusters (e.g., Health, Digital, Climate, Food), with dedicated support for research infrastructures, talent mobility (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions), and mechanisms to widen participation and spread excellence across Europe.

Themes

Technology & Innovation

5G Artificial Intelligence

Regional & International Cooperation

Bi-regional Cooperation

Technology & Innovation

Blockchain Cloud Computing

Inclusion & Social Development

Connectivity

Data & Governance

Cyber Risk Management Cybersecurity Data Governance Data Governance & Cybersecurity Data Privacy Data Protection

Regional & International Cooperation

Digital & Technological Partnerships

Digital Transformation & Strategy

Digital Acceleration

Data & Governance

Digital Access

Digital Transformation & Strategy

Digital Agenda Digital Economy Digital Ecosystem

Inclusion & Social Development

Digital Education

Data & Governance

Digital Ethics Digital Governance Digital Identity Management

Inclusion & Social Development

Digital Inclusion

Digital Transformation & Strategy

Digital Infrastructure Digital Investment Digital Platforms Digital Policy Digital Regulation Digital Research

Data & Governance

Digital Rights

Digital Transformation & Strategy

Digital Skills Development Digital Transitions

Data & Governance

E-Governance

Regional & International Cooperation

EU-CELAC Digital Partnership EU-LAC Digital Alliance

Inclusion & Social Development

Gender Equality in Tech

Regional & International Cooperation

Global Digital Cooperation

Technology & Innovation

High-Performance Computing ICT Innovation Innovation in Computing

Data & Governance

Internet Governance

Regional & International Cooperation

Multilateralism

Technology & Innovation

Quantum Technologies

Inclusion & Social Development

Social Cohesion Sustainable Digital Development

Technology & Innovation

Tech-Driven Solutions Technology & Innovation (Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Technologies, ICT Innovation) Technology Regulations VRE

Actors

Civil Society Actors

Civil Society Organisations Digital Literacy Initiatives Digital Skills Development Platforms Digital Training and Education Providers Non-governmental Institutions Technology Providers

Economic Actors

Digital Companies ICT Companies Industry Actors Private Sector Representatives Research Funding Organisations Telecommunication Companies

Political Actors

EU Member States European Commission European Council European Parliament European Union

Research and Innovation Actors

Academic Institutions Digital Innovation Hubs European Institute of Innovation and Technology Innovators Knowledge and Innovation Communities Pan-European Research and Education Network Research Performing Organisations Researchers Technology Organisations Thematic communities Universities

Practical Applications

  • Adoption and implementation of the 2025-2027 strategic research and innovation plan under the Specific Programme implementing Horizon Europe, as set out in the Commission Implementing Decision of 20 March 2024.
  • Ongoing implementation of Horizon Europe (2021-2027), the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, with a budget of over EUR 83 billion, structured into Pillars and Clusters addressing Excellent Science, Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Innovative Europe, and Widening Participation and Strengthening the ERA.
  • Active operation of the European Research Council (ERC), providing long-term, flexible funding for frontier research across all fields, including support for early-career researchers and international cooperation initiatives.
  • Ongoing Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), supporting researcher mobility, training, and career development across borders, sectors, and disciplines, including public outreach and skills development.
  • Support and development of European research infrastructures, including the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC), pan-European research and education networks, and the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) roadmap.
  • Implementation of research and innovation activities in six clusters under Pillar II, including Health; Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society; Civil Security for Society; Digital, Industry and Space; Climate, Energy and Mobility; and Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment.
  • Ongoing Joint Research Centre (JRC) non-nuclear direct actions, providing scientific and technical support for EU policies, including knowledge centres for migration, disaster risk management, food fraud, and bioeconomy.
  • Operation of the European Innovation Council (EIC), including the Pathfinder for advanced research and the Accelerator for innovation and market deployment, providing blended finance (grants and equity) to high-risk, breakthrough innovations, especially for SMEs and start-ups.
  • Implementation of EIC business acceleration services, including coaching, mentoring, and networking for funded innovators, and EIC Challenges (inducement prizes) to address global challenges.
  • Active European Innovation Ecosystems initiatives, including the EIC Forum for coordination among Member States, joint innovation programmes, and support for mentoring, technical assistance, and data-sharing platforms.
  • Ongoing Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (ERA) activities, including Teaming, Twinning, ERA Chairs, and COST actions to build capacity and excellence in lower-performing countries.
  • Use of established funding mechanisms, such as grants, blended finance, and support for public procurement of innovation, as well as synergies with other EU programmes (e.g., InvestEU, Digital Europe, EU4Health, Erasmus+, ESF+, ERDF).
  • Implementation of policy frameworks for open science, gender equality, citizen engagement, and responsible research and innovation, including support for National Contact Points and Policy Support Facility services.
  • Active international cooperation through joint actions, partnerships, and alignment with global initiatives such as the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
  • Ongoing support for the exploitation and market uptake of Horizon Europe results, including systematic identification, dissemination, and transfer of research and innovation outcomes to industry, public administrations, and civil society.

Resulting Commitments

  • Actions under the Specific Programme should contribute at least 35% of the overall financial envelope of the Specific Programme to climate objectives.
  • The financial envelope for the implementation of the Specific Programme for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027 shall be EUR 83,397,000,000 in current prices.
  • The amount referred to above shall be increased by an additional allocation of EUR 2,790,000,000 in constant 2018 prices for the Specific Programme.
  • EUR 8,952,000,000 in current prices is to support the cluster 'Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment' for the period 2021-2027.
  • The completion of the Digital Single Market and the growing opportunities from the convergence of digital and physical technologies require a substantial increase in spending on main digital R&I activities compared to the framework programme Horizon 2020.
  • The measures referred to in Article 1(2) of Council Regulation (EU) 2020/2094 shall be implemented under this Specific Programme through amounts referred to in point (a)(iv) of Article 2(2) of that Regulation, with the indicative distribution of these additional amounts as follows: 25% to cluster 'Health'; 25% to cluster 'Digital, Industry and Space'; 25% to cluster 'Climate, Energy and Mobility'; 25% to the EIC.
  • The MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) aim to train and employ at least one million new researchers by 2027 in order to achieve the targets being set for increased investment in R&I.
  • A start-up or an SME may benefit only once during Horizon Europe from grant-only support from the EIC, and that support will not exceed EUR 2.5 million.

Technical Details

Scope
Regional
Lead Country
European Union (EU)

Policy & Strategic Alignment

EU Policy Alignment

Digital Decade
Horizon Europe
NDICI-Global Europe

SDG Alignment

SDG 1: SDG 1: No Poverty
SDG 2: SDG 2: Zero Hunger
SDG 3: SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
SDG 4: SDG 4: Quality Education
SDG 5: SDG 5: Gender Equality
SDG 6: SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7: SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8: SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 9: SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 10: SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
SDG 11: SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: SDG 13: Climate Action
SDG 14: SDG 14: Life Below Water
SDG 15: SDG 15: Life on Land
SDG 16: SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions
SDG 17: SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

Beneficiary Groups

Researchers & Academia icon
Researchers
Researchers & Academia
Rural & Remote Communities icon
Rural Populations
Rural & Remote Communities
SMEs / Businesses icon
Small and Medium Enterprises
SMEs / Businesses
Start-ups / Innovators icon
Start-ups
Start-ups / Innovators
Women & Girls icon
Women in Tech
Women & Girls

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Climate Objectives Financial Contribution
European Commission
Climate/Environment
Cluster 6 Budget Allocation
European Commission
Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Environment
EIC Board Membership Size
European Commission
Innovation Governance
ERC President Time Commitment
ERC President / European Commission
Research Governance
ERC Research Excellence and Global Impact
European Research Council (ERC)
Research Excellence
ERC Scientific Council Diversity
European Commission
Research Governance
Mission-Oriented Portfolio Approach
European Commission
Research and Innovation Missions
New Researchers Trained and Employed
European Commission / Member States
Human Resources in Research
Strategic Plan Duration and Flexibility
European Commission
Research and Innovation
Total Programme Budget Allocation
European Commission
Research and Innovation

Basic Information

Title
Council Decision (EU) 2021/764: Establishing the Specific Programme Implementing Horizon Europe – the Framework Progr...
Date
20 March 2024
Type
Agreements Multilateral
Legal Character
Legally-binding