Horizon 2020: what it is and how to apply for funding, €79 billion for research and innovation

How businesses, universities, charities and other organisations can access funding support for European research and innovation projects.

Overview

Horizon 2020 is the largest ever European funding programme for research and innovation. It has a budget of 79 billion euros and will run until 2020.

It aims to:

• ensure that Europe produces world-class science
• remove barriers to innovation
• make it easier for public and private sectors to innovate together

This guidance is designed to help people in the UK understand and access the funding opportunities available, in order to innovate and grow both in the UK and abroad.

What is Horizon 2020?

The Horizon 2020 programme was established by the European Union (EU) as a collaborative financial instrument that would help secure Europe’s global competitiveness in research and innovation.

The programme – running from 2014 to 2020 – is seen as a means of putting Europe at the heart of world-class science and innovation, making it more competitive, creating economic growth and new jobs. It offers an open, simple structure for accessing funding in order to remove barriers to collaborative innovation, get new projects off the ground quickly and achieve results faster.

Funding calls are based on 3 areas:

Excellent science

This area focuses on raising the level of excellence in Europe’s science base by:

• supporting the best ideas
• developing European talent
• providing researchers with access to a research infrastructure

Industrial leadership

This area stimulates the growth potential of European companies by:

• offering access to risk finance
• encouraging private investment in research and development
• offering support for innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

Societal challenges

This area aims to tackle the biggest challenges facing modern society. It reflects the policy priorities of the European Commission and covers all stages of research and innovation, from concept to market.

What Horizon 2020 can do for you as a UK business

If you are an innovative UK-based business you should apply for a Horizon 2020 call. It is:

• the biggest single opportunity for UK businesses to access European funding
• a gateway for accessing new expertise, infrastructure and markets
• a proven instrument for supporting your business to become more innovative, competitive and to grow faster – and helping to grow the UK economy as a whole

See how other businesses have benefited from European funding opportunities.

Find out if you’re eligible to apply

Horizon 2020 funding opportunities are open to all EU member states.

If you want to apply to run a standard research project you must be one of the following:

• registered business
• charity
• partnership or
• research organisation that has legal standing

You must form a consortium with other members of this status. For other, non-standard competitions different conditions may apply. The guidance for the competition will specify this.

Get more information on eligibility.

Email the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy if you face any problems in engaging with EU support.

UK participation in Horizon 2020: UK government overview

UK government encourages the UK research and innovation community to continue applying for Horizon 2020 funding and to participate in projects.

This is because, until our departure from the EU, we remain a member state, with all the rights and obligations that entails. This includes UK organisations being eligible to participate in the Horizon 2020 programme while we remain a member of the EU.

UK organisations’ eligibility in Horizon 2020 is intended to remain unchanged for the duration of the programme, as set out in the joint report on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. This includes an organisation’s eligibility to participate in Horizon 2020 projects and to receive funding for the lifetime of these projects.

The underwrite guarantee will remain in place even if the commitments made in the joint report are not met.

Read the overview of the UK’s eligibility to participate in Horizon 2020.

Opportunites for other countries

There are also some opportunities for people from other countries. You can find the full list of these associated countries and third countries on the Horizon 2020 website.

Find out what funding is available

Horizon 2020 provides different types of funding schemes. You can find more information about each stream on the European Commission Participant Portal.

Research and innovation actions

You can apply for funding for projects that establish or explore the feasibility of new knowledge or technology. You can get funding for up to 100% of your project’s direct costs.

Innovation actions

You can apply for funding if your project is close to market. This could include:

• prototyping
• testing
• demonstrating
• piloting
• market replication or
• large-scale product validation

You can get up to 70% of your project’s direct costs if you are a business, or up to 100% funding if you are a not-for-profit organisation.

Coordination and support actions

You can apply for funding to cover networking and coordinating research and innovation projects. This can include:

• standardisation
• dissemination
• awareness-raising
• networking
• support services

You can get funding for up to 100% of your project’s direct costs.

SME instrument

This stream is for SMEs that want to develop their growth potential. There are 3 phases and these cover the whole innovation cycle. You can also access a mentoring and coaching service.

Find out if you are an SME.

Fast track to innovation

You can apply for funding for innovation activities that are close to market. To apply, you must be part of a consortium with 3 to 5 partners. Partners must be from at least 3 different EU member states or associated countries.

Pre-commercial procurement

If you are in the public sector, you can act as a buyer to encourage the development of new solutions to problems. This will give you access to innovations before they go on sale to others. This will also open up market opportunities for industry and researchers.

Public procurement of innovative solutions

If you are a contracting authority, you can apply for funding to help you act as a customer for new innovations. These innovations are products or services that are not available on a large-scale commercial basis.

Marie Sklodowska Curie actions

You can apply for funding if you are a researcher. You can get funding for up to 100% of your project’s direct costs.

European Research Council grants

You can apply for funding if you are looking for support for fundamental research. You can get funding for up to 100% of your project’s direct costs.

See the full list of live funding opportunities.

Learn how Hybrid Air Vehicles used Horizon 2020 funding to develop its innovative Airlander hybrid aircraft.

Apply for Horizon 2020 funding

To apply for funding you need to:

• find a live funding call
• find partners to form a consortium
• register on the European Commission Participant Portal
• read the online manual, which includes step-by-step instructions on preparing your proposal
• submit your proposal via the portal by the stated deadline

Once you have submitted your proposal the European Commission will check that you are eligible. A panel of independent experts will then assess your proposal. There is standard evaluation criteria, although this can vary for each funding scheme.

Visit the European Commission participant portal to register and apply.

Get help with your Horizon 2020 application

If you are a UK applicant there are organisations that can help you find opportunities and complete your proposal.

National Contact Points

The network of National Contact Points are based across the UK to help you with a range of Horizon 2020 issues, including:

• choosing the best funding scheme
• administrative procedures and contractual issues
• the application process
• the documents you’ll need to use (forms, guidelines and manuals)
• finding a project partner
• reviewing your proposal
• any communication between you and the commission on your project scope

Find your local National Contact Point.

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN)

The Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) works to advise and connect UK businesses with co-developers, manufacturers, distributors and suppliers overseas.

You can get help from EEN if you are an organisation with high innovative potential and ambitions for international growth. It can advise on:

• going international – finding and connecting with potential business partners across Europe
• communicating with the EU
• finding other funding opportunities and local initiatives
• account management for organisations receiving Horizon 2020 funding
• becoming more innovative

Contact the EEN in England, Northern Ireland and Wales.

Contact the EEN in Scotland.

The Knowledge Transfer Network

As our networking partner, the Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) links new ideas and opportunities with expertise, markets and finance through its network of businesses, universities, funders and investors.

You can get help from the KTN to:

• find funding opportunities
• form partnerships
• develop your project proposals
• work with other UK stakeholders to influence Horizon 2020 work programmes

Find out more about KTN.

Devolved administrations

If you are in Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales you can get support from the devolved administrations:

• Northern Ireland – the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
• Scotland – the Scottish EU Funding Portal
• Wales – the Welsh European Funding Office Horizon 2020 Unit

Get help to find a project partner

To apply for some Horizon 2020 funding schemes you will need to form a consortium with partners in other countries.

There are a number of places where you can get help to find partners:

• European Commission Participation Portal partner search tool
• European Commission CORDIS partner search tool
• Enterprise Europe Network
• Knowledge Transfer Network

Horizon 2020 events

You can find out about specific funding opportunities by attending a Horizon 2020 event.

• UK Info and Brokerage Event on Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing, 18 September 2018, London, UK

• H2020 Space: Information and Consortia Building Event, 25 September 2018, London, UK

• Food Security, Sustainable Agriculture, ‘Blue’ Growth and the Bioeconomy: Horizon 2020 Information & Brokerage Event, 26 September 2018, London, UK

• Smart, Green and Integrated Transport in H2020: Information and Consortia Building Event, 11 October 2018, Birmingham, UK

• Robotics in Horizon 2020: Information and Consortia Building Event, 25 October 2018, London, UK

• Photonics in Horizon 2020: Information and Consortia Building Event, 29 October 2018, London, UK

• Photonics in Horizon 2020: Information and Consortia Building Event, 30 October 2018, Glasgow, UK

• Horizon 2020: EU Partnering Event on Big Data and Artificial Intelligence for Monitoring Health Status and Quality of Life After Cancer Treatment, 30 October 2018, Brussels, Belgium

• Cloud Computing and Data in Horizon 2020: Information and Consortia Building Event, 6 November 2018, London, UK

• Horizon 2020 Brokerage Event on Nanotechnology, Advanced Materials, Manufacturing & Processing, 20 November 2018, Birmingham, UK

• Horizon 2020 ICT 2018 Brokerage Event, 4 to 6 December 2018, Vienna, Austria

• High Performance Computing and Extreme Scale Computing Technologies in Horizon 2020: Information and Consortia Building Event, 29 January 2019, London, UK

Register for news and information about Horizon 2020 events.

Published 3 November 2015
Last updated 14 September 2018 + show all updates

1. 14 September 2018 Added a series of new KTN events.
2. 9 May 2018 Added new information and links for Horizon 2020 events taking place in May and June 2018.
3. 6 April 2018 Added new information and links for various Horizon 2020 events taking place in May and June 2018.
4. 23 March 2018 Added new information and links for 2 MSCA Individual Fellowship briefing events in April and May 2018.
5. 8 March 2018 Removed section on other European funding opportunities, which has now been incorporated into a new guidance page on global innovation opportunities: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/global-innovation-what-support-is-available Added upcoming events and links for Materials Research Exchange Conference and Exhibition, Horizon 2020 Brokerage Event Paris, LIFE Information Day 2018.
6. 5 March 2018 Revised section on Horizon 2020 to incorporate the latest thinking from the joint report on the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. It outlines the intention that UK organisations’ eligibility in Horizon 2020 should remain unchanged for the duration of the programme, including their eligibility to participate in Horizon 2020 projects and to receive.
7. 23 February 2018 Added latest programme of Horizon 2020 events taking place in March and April 2018.
8. 18 December 2017 Updated latest events.
9. 7 December 2017 Updated latest events.
10. 6 November 2017 Updated latest events.
11. 24 October 2017 Updated latest events.
12. 22 September 2017 Updated latest events.
13. 18 September 2017 Updated latest events.
14. 15 September 2017 Updated latest events.
15. 8 September 2017 Added latest events.
16. 15 August 2017 Updated latest events.
17. 1 August 2017 Clarified underpayment of awards to UK applicants for projects that continue and/or are awarded beyond the UK’s exit from the EU. Also updated the outlining ministerial statement to: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/instruct-european-research-infrastructure-consortia-eric-inaugural-event
18. 25 July 2017 Updated latest Horizon 2020 events.
19. 30 June 2017 Added new sections on ‘What is Horizon 2020’ and ‘What Horizon 2020 can do for you as a UK business’ to clarify programme details and benefits. Incorporated information on funding while the UK remains a member of the EU in ‘Find out if you’re eligible to apply’. Moved section on ‘Get help with your Horizon 2020 application’ above ‘Get help to find a project partner’. Updated imagery.
20. 7 June 2017 Added latest Horizon2020 events.
21. 3 May 2017 Updated latest events.
22. 27 April 2017 Updated with latest events and link to UK National Contact Point details.
23. 4 April 2017 Updated latest events.
24. 6 March 2017 Added information on SUGI programme under ‘Other funding opportunities’ and updated funding information under ‘Electronic components and systems for European leadership’.
25. 3 March 2017 Added information on ERA-NET programme under ‘Other funding opportunities’.
26. 2 March 2017 Updated latest Horizon 2020 events.
27. 14 February 2017 Updated contact details and programmes we support.
28. 13 February 2017 Updated H2020 events
29. 12 January 2017 Added “MSCA – RISE Call 2017 information event” to event listing
30. 13 December 2016 Updated events listing
31. 11 November 2016 Updated the events listings
32. 19 October 2016 Added new events
33. 11 October 2016 Added new events for October and beyond.
34. 8 September 2016 Removed “Horizon 2020 Climate Action, Environment, Resource Efficiency and Raw Materials – Societal Challenge 5” as it has been cancelled
35. 8 September 2016 Added new events
36. 31 August 2016 Added new events
37. 15 August 2016 Added link to Chancellor Philip Hammond’s statement guaranteeing Horizon 2020 EU funding beyond date UK leaves the EU
38. 12 August 2016 Added new events
39. 19 July 2016 Link added to register for the expression of interest to become a member of the Horizon 2020 Interim Evaluation High-Level Expert Group on maximising the impact of EU Research and Innovation programmes as part of the interim evaluation of Horizon 2020
40. 12 July 2016 Added Horizon 2020 Information Day on the Research Public-Private Partnerships event details
41. 21 June 2016 Removed an invitation-only event
42. 20 June 2016 New H2020 events added
43. 2 June 2016 Two past events removed.
44. 4 May 2016 New events added
45. 26 April 2016 Events added
46. 9 February 2016 New event added
47. 28 January 2016 New event added
48. 6 January 2016 New events added
49. 3 November 2015 First published.

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