Second strategic plan for Horizon Europe

The Commission has adopted the second strategic plan for Horizon Europe today. The plan was announced at the Research and Innovation Days and sets out three key strategic orientations for EU's research and innovation funding for the last three years of the programme (2025-2027):

• Green transition;
• Digital transition;
• A more resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic Europe.

With these orientations the Commission aims to address key global challenges such as climate change, loss of biodiversity, the digital transition and the ageing population.

The strategic plan raises the ambition of Horizon Europe on biodiversity and commits to a target of 10% of the Horizon Europe's total budget for 2025-2027 dedicated to biodiversity-related topics. This new commitment complements existing targets for climate expenditure (35% over the lifetime of Horizon Europe) and main digital activities (€13 billion over the same period).

The strategic plan also identifies nine new European co-funded and co-programmed partnerships:

• Brain Health,
• Forests and Forestry for a Sustainable Future,
• Innovative Materials for EU,
• Raw Materials for the Green and Digital Transition,
• Resilient Cultural Heritage,
• Social Transformations and Resilience,
• Solar Photovoltaics,
• Textiles of the Future, and
• Virtual Worlds.

The key strategic orientations are the guiding principles for Horizon Europe and will be implemented through the work programmes. The Horizon Europe main Work Programme 2025 will be developed following the orientations of the newly adopted strategic plan. In April 2024, the Commission will launch a feedback opportunity for the Work Programme 2025 open to all stakeholders.