Discover Europe's largest research and innovation funding programme: Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the EU's flagship research and innovation programme for 2021-2027, with a total budget of €93.5 billion. It supports researchers, universities, companies and public institutions across Europe in tackling climate change, driving digital transformation and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By funding collaboration across borders, disciplines and sectors, Horizon Europe strengthens the European Research Area, creates jobs and boosts industrial competitiveness. For Luxembourg-based organisations, it represents a major opportunity to access European funding, build international partnerships and raise the global visibility of their research and innovation activities.

Horizon Europe is organised into three pillars and one cross-cutting part:

In addition, Horizon Europe incorporates five EU Missions — high-ambition, large-scale initiatives with specific targets in areas such as cancer, climate adaptation, smart cities, ocean restoration and soil health.

The programme also supports European Partnerships, in which the EU, national authorities and the private sector jointly commit to shared research and innovation programmes.

Horizon Europe provides funding primarily in the form of grants, covering a share of eligible project costs. Funding rates vary by instrument and type of activity:

• Research and innovation actions: up to 100% of eligible costs
• Innovation actions: up to 70% of eligible costs (100% for non-profit organisations)
• The EIC Accelerator offers several funding options, including blended finance combining grants and equity investment
• The EIC STEP Scale-up call provides equity investment only

Grants are awarded on a competitive basis following evaluation of submitted proposals. The evaluation criteria are excellence, impact and quality of implementation.

For Luxembourg-based organisations, Horizon Europe participation generates a direct financial return to the national economy. Luxinnovation tracks Luxembourg's return on investment in the programme as part of its mandate.

Horizon Europe is governed by Regulation (EU) 2021/695 of the European Parliament and of the Council. Participation is subject to the rules set out in the Horizon Europe Model Grant Agreement, which defines the rights and obligations of all parties, including rules on intellectual property, reporting, audits and financial management. Eligible costs must be actual, incurred during the project duration, identifiable and verifiable, and compliant with the applicable national and EU rules. 

The National Contact Point (NCP) team is there to support you throughout the entire application process and during the lifetime of your Horizon Europe project. We can help you assess the most relevant calls for proposals and way forward for your research projects, identify past and on-going projects and key actors that can be helpful for your proposal, advise on the proposal writing and review your draft. We can also provide support with legal and financial matters at the proposal stage and during the implementation of the project.

Horizon Europe is a vast programme, and each member of the NCP team focuses on specific areas in order to be able to provide you with in-depth information.