Pillar II: Global Challenges + European Industrial Competitiveness

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Boosting key technologies and solutions underpinning EU policies and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Broken down into 6 Clusters: Health; Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Societies; Civil Security for Society; Digital, Industry and Space; Climate, Energy and Mobility; and Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment.

Key Aspects

Each proposal must be submitted by a consortium of at least 3 organisations from 3 different funding-eligible countries (unless otherwise specified in the call). At least one of the applicants must be in an EU-member state and the other 2 in different EU member states or Associated Countries. Having one or more industry partners (in the EU or Canada), where applicable, is advantageous.

Any legal entity is eligible to participate, but only entities that are registered in an EU member state, an “Associated Country”, or a “Low- or Middle-Income Country” are eligible to receive funding (Full list of eligible non-EU member countries). This includes for-profit, non-profit, EU bodies, and international European research organisations. Canada is now FULLY ELIGIBLE to receive funding under Pillar II calls. Note that Canada is not eligible to receive funding for other calls under Horizon Europe except the ERC Synergy Grant.

Value

€2-20 M (~CA$3-30 M) per project (call-dependent) split over the consortium of eligible partners (see above).

Indirect Costs of Research (ICR): 25% of eligible direct expenses

Funding Duration

Typically 2-3 years (call-dependent)

Contact

Contact Grant Kemp, Research Partner for International Opportunities, to discuss your proposal or check out his Horizon Europe Google Site for actively updated content including newsletters, videos, a calendar of deadlines, and useful links.

Grant Kemp
Research Partner, VPRI Research Partners Network
grant.kemp@ualberta.ca

National Contact Points (NCPs) for Canada
The Government of Canada has established National Contact Points (NCP) to provide guidance, practical information and assistance for those interested in participating in Horizon Europe. There is at least one NCP for each of the six clusters in Pillar 2.

Deadlines

  • Depends on the call
  • RAS Internal Review Deadline
    • 10 business days before application submission date (Submit application to RAS via the Researcher Home Page)

Research Partner Network Resources

Horizon Europe: Key Considerations
Map of eligible countries
Summary of all open and forthcoming Pillar II Topics
Guide to using the EU Funding and Tenders Portal
Horizon Europe Roles and Responsibilities - Quick Reference

External Resources

International Opportunities in Horizon Europe
(presentation slides by Luigi Scarpa de Masellis, March 13th, 2024)
EU Funding and Tenders Portal (find and apply to calls)
Funding and Tenders Portal detailed online manual
Canada's Mission to the EU webinar on Horizon Europe (slides download here)

Research Supports Available for Horizon Europe

Information Session for researchers 

Past Session: Feb 6, 2024

Watch Recording Download Slides

Canada has recently become an Associated Country to Pillar II of Horizon Europe, the European Commission's Research and Innovation funding programme. It is the largest funding pool in the world, opening up €60 billion to Canadian innovators. Grant Kemp, the Research Partner supporting Horizon Europe gave an information session to researchers. He presented an overview of the program, its goals and scope, and provided what a good proposal needs to include to maximise the likelihood of success.

Help building your consortium

Quick Links

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