Horizon Europe: "Simpler access for more competitiveness"

On Thursday 11 December, the Horizon Europe Day 2025 event convened approximately one hundred participants in Esch-Belval. This annual gathering highlights how the EU's flagship research and innovation funding programme can assist all Luxembourg stakeholders throughout their innovation journey, from research to market launch.

"Horizon Europe is one of the EU's principal tools to address the transitions shaping our shared future," stated Philippe Mayer, Deputy CEO of Luxinnovation, during the conference's opening remarks. Luxembourg's involvement in Horizon Europe has already secured nearly €250 million in funding, supporting close to 400 projects, with a success rate surpassing the European average. "More than half of this funding is allocated to private organisations, demonstrating robust commercial engagement and affirming Luxembourg's standing in the European research and innovation arena."

This Horizon Europe Day 2025 also provided Anne Calteux, Head of the European Commission's Representation in Luxembourg, with the opportunity to outline the roadmap for the final two years of the current edition of the Horizon Europe programme.

Ms Calteux, the European Commission has just published the Horizon Europe work programme for the years 2026-2027. What are the major new features?

First of all, a simplified programme. Simplification is a constant concern at the level of the European Commission. There are still too many companies that hesitate to submit an application for a Horizon Europe call because they find it too complicated. This is why we have reviewed the terms of this €14 billion programme.

We now offer simplified processes, with fewer details requested from applicants, fewer topics and less reporting. Over the years, we have realised that all these aspects are likely to slow down the attractiveness of the European supply of funding.

The key word for 2026 and 2027 will be ’competitiveness’. Anne Calteux

Secondly, it is a programme that is more in line with the political agenda. Obviously, we would like to see more companies participate in calls for projects and help to implement the Commission's political ambitions and priorities on the ground. That's why we've introduced horizontal calls, which focus on decarbonised industry and AI, as a way to ensure that research is aligned with strategic priorities.

The key word for 2026 and 2027 will be ’competitiveness’. Because without competitiveness, there is no development of employment. Without competitiveness, we will not be able to catch up with other parts of the world such as the United States or China, particularly in the field of innovation. Europe needs an environment that is conducive to innovation and to those who contribute to it.

This desire is not only aimed at companies, but also at the world of pure research.

Indeed, we want to provide researchers with more resources so that they can flourish in Europe, rather than moving elsewhere. We know that, for example, the United States offers them access to significant resources, which obviously makes them more attractive. We want to change this and ensure that researchers stay here in Europe and even that we can attract new ones.

This is also part of this desire to strengthen this competitiveness. The ’Choose Europe for Science’ initiative provides stable co-financing opportunities and access to cutting-edge facilities with a budget of €500 million.

And let's not forget the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Action, which allocates €50 million to post-doctoral programmes and the relocation of researchers to Europe.

What areas do you want to focus on?

For example, we will promote research and innovation projects that produce more green energy and clean technologies. We will also support all projects that will allow us to develop artificial intelligence in a responsible and innovative way in Europe.

I can see that Luxembourg is positioning itself in a very ambitious way in this area. I believe that this is a real opportunity well understood by the government, which has presented several complementary strategies in terms of AI, data and quantum.

For these last two years of the Horizon Europe programme, we will focus on working on scientific excellence, supported in particular by the European Research Council (ERC); competitiveness through six clusters**; and innovation supported by the European Innovation Council (EIC). The first calls will open very soon, so there is no time to waste.

This will make it possible to make the link with the next programme which will cover the period 2028-2034.

Indeed, the Horizon Europe 2028-2034 framework programme will build on the achievements of its predecessors. It will develop what works, simplify what is possible and concentrate investments where Europe needs them most, taking into account the tense geopolitical context. It will be closely linked to the European Competitiveness Fund and will have a budget of €175 billion, almost double the current framework programme.

Research and innovation will be more than ever the keystone of the European project for the years to come. Anne Calteux

It will be based on four pillars: scientific excellence, competitiveness and society, innovation and the European Research Area. The "competitiveness" part alone will have a budget of €75.9 billion, i.e., more than 40% of the overall budget. It will focus on four main areas: clean transition and decarbonisation of industry; health, biotechnology, agriculture and bioeconomy; digital leadership; and resilience and security, defence industry and space.

All this demonstrates a strong political will on the part of the European Commission to push the agenda much further and to develop research and innovation, which will be more than ever the keystone of the European project for the years to come. Players like Luxinnovation are essential to guide those who participate in the calls and thus make a difference on the ground.

** Health; Culture and Inclusive Society; Civil Security; Digital & Industry & Space; Climate & Energy & Mobility; Food & Bioeconomy & Natural Resources & Environment.