Funding programmes and open calls
What Horizon Europe's Strategic Plan is and how it is developed
The second Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027
The start of the second Horizon Europe strategic planning process was officially launched by Commissioner Mariya Gabriel during the European Research and Innovation days 2022.
As the first step in the process, the Commission will create a strong, analytical foundation for the Strategic Plan. Like its predecessor, the Strategic Plan 2025-2027 will be co-designed with input from citizens and stakeholders. Citizens will be consulted during a dedicated workshop on 1 December.
The workshop is organised in the context of the feedback event on the follow-up of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFE) taking place on 2 December. The proposals that were developed during the CoFE will be used as a basis for citizens' discussions to outline research and innovation priorities for the last three years of Horizon Europe programme. The outcomes of this event will feed into the Strategic Plan analysis document.
The Strategic Plan 2025-2027 is also covered in the largest ever public online consultation of Horizon Europe. The consultation features questions on the past and current research and innovation programmes (Horizon 2020 ex-post evaluation and Horizon Europe interim evaluation). The exercise launched on 1 December on EU survey and will remain open for 12 weeks until 23 February 2023. Questions are accessible in English, German and French. Participants can reply in all EU languages.
The Strategic Plan will be drafted with early involvement and extensive exchanges with EU Member States and extensive exchanges with the European Parliament, and is expected to be adopted in 2024.
What is the Strategic Plan?
The Strategic Plan sets out the policy priorities for Horizon Europe, as well as expected impacts. It is the basis for the work programme covering Pillar II of Horizon Europe and its call topics.
One important aim of the Strategic Plan is to promote consistency between the work programmes, EU and national priorities and to achieve continuity and coherence of funding measures beyond the (bi-)annual duration of work programmes.
Two Strategic Plans are planned for the duration of Horizon Europe: the first one covers the period of 2021-2024, the second one – 2025-2027.
The Strategic Plan contains the following elements
key strategic orientations for research and innovation support, including a description of expected impacts, cross-cluster issues and intervention areas covered
identification of co-programmed and co-funded European partnerships
identification of missions
areas for international cooperation
specific issues, such as the balance between research and innovation; the integration of social sciences and humanities; the role of key enabling technologies and strategic value chains; gender equality, including the integration of gender dimension in research and innovation content; adherence to the highest ethics and integrity standards; priorities for dissemination and exploitation
How is the Strategic Plan developed?
Both the Strategic Plan and the strategic planning process have been included in the Horizon Europe legal acts.
The strategic planning process shall
focus in particular on Pillar II of the Horizon Europe, Global challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness and cover also relevant activities in other pillars and the Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area part
ensure early involvement and extensive exchanges with EU Member States, and extensive exchanges with the European Parliament
be complemented by consultation with stakeholders and the general public in order to contribute to a stronger engagement with citizens and civil society
It shall also include a thorough analysis covering at least the following elements
political, socio-economic and environmental drivers, which are relevant for the EU and EU Member States' policy priorities
the contribution of research and innovation to the realisation of EU policy objectives, while capitalising on studies, other scientific evidence and relevant initiatives at EU and national level, including institutionalised partnerships
evidence-base resulting from foresight activities, science and technology and innovation indicators, international developments such as the implementation of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals and feedback from implementation, including monitoring the implementation of specific measures with regard to widening participation and sharing excellence and participation of SMEs
priorities with the potential to be implemented in synergy with other EU programmes
a description of the various approaches for stakeholder consultation and citizen engagement as part of the work to develop work programmes
complementarity and synergies with planning of the Knowledge Innovation Communities (KICs) of the EIT
Input from citizens and stakeholders
On 1 December 2022, the Commission launched the largest public consultation ever held on the past, present and future of the EU's Horizon research and innovation programmes 2014-2027. Stakeholders are invited to share their views on the performance of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, as well as shaping the strategic orientations for theHorizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027.
The consultation is open for 12 weeks until 22 February 2023 and questions are accessible in English, German and French. Participants can reply in all EU languages.
On 1 December 2022, a citizens' engagement event for the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027 is taking place. It is organised in the context of the feedback event on the follow-up of the Conference on the Future of Europe (CoFE) taking place on 2 December. The proposals that were developed during the CoFE will be used as a basis for citizens' discussions to outline research and innovation priorities for the last three years of the Horizon Europe programme. The outcomes of this event will feed into the Strategic Plan analysis document.
The first Horizon Europe Strategic Plan (2021-2024)
The first Strategic Plan sets out the key strategic orientations for the targeting of investments in the programme's first four years.
promoting an open strategic autonomy by leading the development of key digital, enabling and emerging technologies, sectors and value chains to accelerate and steer the digital and green transitions through human-centred technologies and innovations
restoring Europe's ecosystems and biodiversity, and managing sustainably natural resources to ensure food security and a clean and healthy environment
making Europe the first digitally enabled circular, climate-neutral and sustainable economy through the transformation of its mobility, energy, construction and production systems
creating a more resilient, inclusive and democratic European society, prepared and responsive to threats and disasters, addressing inequalities and providing high-quality health care, and empowering all citizens to act in the green and digital transitions
It also identifies the European co-funded and co-programmed partnerships, the 5 missions and covers international cooperation and other horizontal aspects.
Strategic plan15 March 2021
Horizon Europe strategic plan 2021-2024
The strategic plan 2021-24 defines the key strategic orientations for the first four years of Horizon Europe, the EU's multiannual framework programme for research and innovation.
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Factsheet15 March 2021
The strategic plan 2021-2024: An ambitious plan for an ambitious programme
The strategic plan defines the orientations for the first four years of the Horizon Europe programme and outlines the contributions of its various parts.
Now open: Largest public consultation ever held on the past, present and future of the European research and innovation programmes 2014-2027
Research and innovation news alert: In line with the Commission's effort towards Better Regulation, stakeholders will be able to share their views on the performance of Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe, as well as shaping the strategic orientations for the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025-2027
Have your voice heard: Commission launches Horizon Europe strategic planning process 2025-2027
Research and innovation news alert: Today, Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Mariya Gabriel officially launched the 2025-2027 strategic planning process for Horizon Europe during the conclusion of Day 1 of the European Research and Innovation Days.
Horizon Europe's first strategic plan 2021-2024: Commission sets research and innovation priorities for a sustainable future
The Commission adopted the first strategic plan for Horizon Europe, worth €95.5 billion in current prices. The strategic plan is a novelty in Horizon Europe and sets the strategic orientations for the targeting of investments in the programme's first 4 years.
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