EU FUNDING PROGRAMMES FOR RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

Europe 2020, the medium term strategy of the European Union, hinges on research and innovation as the pivots for growth and competitiveness. The European Commission defines policies and develops regulation that converge towards the EU2020 ambitious priorities of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. In addition, the EU provides funding for projects that support the achievement of EU2020 objectives. Funding is available at national level through the European Structural and Investment Funds and at European level through the centralised EU funding programmes, the focus of this paper. Small and large organisations of the private, public and third sectors from all over Europe are eligible for funding. EU programmes provide grant funding that cover only partially - typically 75% - the costs of international collaborative projects. Horizon 2020 is the EU programme in support of research and innovation for growth and competitiveness; with an almost (sic) 80 billion budget for the 2014-2020 period, Horizon 2020 is the largest EU funding programme.