Brussels, 12/12/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 11 December, the European Commission presented the first calls for proposals of the framework agreement for research and innovation, Horizon 2020. €7.7 billion are already on the table for 2014, with special attention paid to twelve specific areas. “After all the talk and the seemingly endless negotiations around the EU budget, today we are starting to put that money to good use”, Research Commissioner Maire Geoghegan-Quinn was pleased to state.
The work programme for 2014 is made up of 64 calls for proposals spread out over the three main pillars of Horizon 2020: - the excellent science pillar (€3 billion for 18 calls); - the industrial leadership pillar (€1.8 billion for 15 calls); - and the societal challenges pillar (€2.8 billion for 24 calls). Another seven calls, for the sum of €95 million, are planned in addition to the above three. They come within the framework of the two new lines of activity that have been created at the European Parliament's express request: “spreading excellence and widening participation” and “science with and for society - a crosscutting challenge”. From the €7.7 billion, €800 million are for the first batch of calls for proposals with a view to financing research projects in the context of new Marie Sklodowska-Curie actions, which target not only young post doctorate graduates but also researchers at the beginning of their career.
The Commission hoped to place emphasis in this work programme on 12 specific fields of action which will have around €2 billion available for them. Those fields relate to: - personalising health and care; sustainable food security; blue growth: unlocking the potential of seas and oceans; digital security; smart cities and communities; competitive low-carbon energy; energy efficiency; innovation in road transport; the fight against waste; water management; the study of new ways to ensure socio-economic development; and the fight against the consequences of natural or man-made disasters. (JK/transl.jl)