In the new budget perspective of the European Union for 2021-2027, “Horizon Europe” will be a flagship programme under which funds for development of the innovation economy and research and development (R&D) programmes will be transferred.

This will be a continuation of the “Horizon 2020” programme, therefore the National Contact Centre for Research Programmes of the EU and the National Centre for Research and Development remains responsible for preparation of the programme implementation strategy and its realisation in Poland. Both institutions operate under jurisdiction of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

Total financial resources allocated in the European Union's Multiannual Financial Framework for years 2021-2027 for implementation of the “Horizon Europe” programme exceed EUR 81 billion.

“Horizon Europe” programme will be implemented in three pillars:

Pillar I: Excellent Science

The “Horizon Europe” programme will be implemented in accordance with the rules already known from the terminated “Horizon 2020” programme.

2. Consortium 

One important rule, already known from the “Horizon 2020” programme, will be implementation of projects in consortia – groups consisting of least three independent entities having their registered office in three different EU Member States or associated with it. A coordinator, a member of a given consortium, will be responsible for settlement of the project implementation and will receive support measures and will also be responsible for their distribution among members of a given consortium. The rule of implementing the project in a consortium should be favourable to international economic cooperation and popularisation of good practices and research results across Europe and beyond.

3. The amount of support

Settlement of the projects shall take place on the basis of reimbursement of the costs incurred. The reimbursement will amount from 60% to 100% of the eligible costs incurred. As a rule, for research and innovation projects (R&I), it is anticipated that 100% funding will be provided. For innovative projects (those without a research component), it is anticipated that the rate of reimbursement will be up to 70%.

4. Calls for proposals

The entity-consortium should apply for support in open calls for proposals. The announcement will specify the area of support, planned budget and the limit of support per one consortium, the required application documents along with the application and the deadline for submitting the application. The submitted application will be evaluated by an independent expert committee in accordance with the following criteria:

• scientific and/or technological excellence,

• impact – potential impact through development, dissemination and exploitation of project results,

• implementation – management structure and procedures, quality of the consortium and choice of partners, allocation of resources (calculation and justification of costs).

The role of the National Contact Centre and the National Centre for Research and Development is to coordinate, train and support the establishment of consortia applying to calls for proposals. Calls for proposals and application shall be carried out directly via website of the European Commission Funding and Tenders Portal.