Horizon Europe’s first strategic plan 2021-2024: European Commission sets research and innovation priorities for a sustainable future

On 15 March, the European Commission adopted the first strategic plan for Horizon Europe, the new EU research and innovation programme worth €95.5 billion in current prices. The strategic plan is a novelty in Horizon Europe and sets the strategic orientations for the targeting of investments in the programme’s first four years.

It ensures that EU research and innovation actions contribute to EU priorities, including a climate-neutral and green Europe, a Europe fit for the digital age, and an economy that works for people.

The strategic plan sets out four strategic orientations for research and innovation investments under Horizon Europe for the next four years. International cooperation underpins all four orientations, as it is essential for tackling many global challenges.

The strategic plan also identifies the European co-funded and co-programmed partnerships and the EU missions to be supported though Horizon Europe. EU missions will address global challenges that affect our daily lives by setting ambitious and inspirational but achievable goals like fighting cancer, adapting to climate change, protecting our oceans, making cities greener and ensuring soil health and food.

The plan’s orientations also address a number of horizontal issues, such as gender.

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Press release

Horizon Europe