Horizon 2020 is the EU's biggest ever research and innovation framework program with a seven-year budget worth nearly €80 billion intended to help boost Europe's knowledge-driven economy and tackle issues that will make a difference in people's lives.

For the first time, the European Commission has indicated funding priorities over two years, providing researchers and businesses with more certainty than ever before on the direction of EU research policy. Calls in the 2014 budget alone are worth around €7.8 billion, with funding focused on the three key pillars of Horizon 2020:

Excellent Science: Around €3 billion, including €1.7 billion for grants from the European Research Council for top scientists and €800 million for Marie Skłodowska-Curie fellowships for younger researchers.

Industrial Leadership: €1.8 billion to support Europe's industrial leadership in areas like ICT, nanotechnologies, advanced manufacturing, robotics, biotechnologies and space.

Societal challenges: €2.8 billion for innovative projects addressing Horizon 2020's seven societal challenges, broadly: health; agriculture, maritime and bioeconomy; energy; transport; climate action, environment, resource efficiency and raw materials; reflective societies; and security.

The funding opportunities under Horizon 2020 are set out in work programs published on the EU's digital portal for research funding, which has been redesigned for quicker, paperless procedures. Participants will also find simpler program architecture and funding, a single set of rules and a reduced burden from financial controls and audits.

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For more information, call 03-5422-6034, or visit www.ec.europa.eu/research/horizon2020/