The day after the donors' videoconference initiated by the European Commission (see EUROPE 12479/1) on Tuesday 5 May, the institution announced that it intends to "further step up the mobilisation of funds" as part of its research and innovation programme.
In order to contribute to the global commitment to a Covid-19 vaccine and treatments, the EU is therefore committing €1 billion to research projects through Horizon 2020.
€325 million of this sum has already been mobilised since January under this programme.
Examples of such funding already agreed include funding for research projects selected by the Commission and the European Innovation Council (see EUROPE 12458/14, 12478/43) or the EUR 45 million granted to the Innovative Medicines Initiative (see EUROPE 12453/7).
"The additional €675 million will be funded through internal budget redeployment within Horizon 2020," says the Commission.
At the forefront of future financing: An additional 400 million raised under the InnovFin Infectious Diseases Financing Facility implemented by the European Investment Bank (EIB) (see EUROPE 12468/8).
It is also proposed to increase the budget of the 'Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations' (CEPI) by EUR 50 million and to provide a further EUR 172 million for ongoing research projects and new projects in areas that are still poorly covered. (Original version in French by Agathe Cherki)