Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 was the European Union's flagship research and innovation funding program, based in Brussels, Belgium, operating from 2014 to 2020. It allocated a substantial total budget of €80 billion, representing nearly a 30% increase from its predecessor, FP7, and funded thousands of collaborative projects. The program supported initiatives across science, industrial leadership, and critical societal challenges such as health, climate change, and clean energy, driving economic growth and world-class innovation. It funded researchers, universities, companies, SMEs, and non-profits through competitive open calls, emphasizing excellent science via the European Research Council, SME support, and public-private partnerships. Key achievements included advances in renewable energy efficiency, medical treatments for diseases, and AI/cybersecurity innovations, with national support networks like Ireland's led by Enterprise Ireland promoting larger projects.