In terms of economic growth, each euro of EU contribution to the Horizon Europe research and innovation programme should generate up to €11 of gains in gross domestic product (GDP) by 2045, according to a European Commission evaluation published on Wednesday 30 April.
With a total budget of €93.5 billion, the programme is expected to generate up to €6 in benefits for EU citizens by 2045 for every euro of cost to European society. Horizon Europe is delivering on its promise to stimulate innovation and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness. “Its strong returns and measurable economic impact clearly demonstrate its success, providing real benefits to citizens across the EU”, said Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation Ekaterina Zaharieva in a statement. “Our commitment is to make EU research and innovation funding simpler, more focused and even more transformative”, she added.
At its halfway point, in January 2025, the programme has financed over 15,000 projects with a total budget of more than €43 billion. 80% of the projects funded by the European Research Council have resulted in scientific breakthroughs or major advances. Since their launch in 1984, the EU’s research and innovation programmes have supported 35 Nobel Prize winners. Every euro invested in innovative companies through the European Innovation Council Fund has attracted more than €3 from private investors.
Read the evaluation: https://aeur.eu/f/gn0 (Original version in French by Anne Damiani)