CIRCE is already preparing for the European Union’s new R&D framework programme Horizon Europe, which will pick up from Horizon 2020 once it is completed by the Commission, the Parliament and the Council.

The European Commission has forecast a TOTAL BUDGET OF €100 BILLION for the 2021-2027 period, which will be divided into three pillars:

1. Excellent Science → €800 m
2. Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness → €800 m
3. Innovative Europe → €500 m

Pillars 1 and 3 – Excellent Service (basic research) and Innovative Europe (close-to-market innovation) – will follow a predominantly ‘bottom-up’ approach, whilst Pillar 2 will tackle research and innovation activities on a cross-sector basis through five clusters:

1. Health (€7.7 bn).
2. Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society (€2.8 bn).
3. Digital and Industry (€15 bn).
4. Climate, Energy and Mobility (€15 bn).
5. Food and Natural Resources (€10 bn).

Updated information about this programme can be found on the European Commission website: ec.europa.eu: ec.europa.eu