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€79 Billion Horizon 2020 comes to Ireland
Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, (right) with Seán Sherlock T.D. Minister for Research & Innovation and Dr. Imelda Lambkin, Director of Ireland’s support network for Horizon 2020 at the Irish launch of Horizon 2020
•€79 Billion available to companies and researchers announces EU Commissioner
•Ireland aims to win €1.25 bn - an average of €3M per week - over lifetime of 7 year programme
Horizon 2020, the European Union’s new €79 billion programme for research and innovation to create new growth and jobs in Europe, was launched in the Convention Centre Dublin today.
EU Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn and Research & Innovation Minister Seán Sherlock launched the largest European fund to date to support research and innovation to an audience of over 2,000 people from companies and academic researchers in Ireland.
Speaking at the launch Minister Sherlock said:
Ireland has adopted a new strategy to ensure strong participation by Irish researchers and companies in Horizon 2020, with an ambitious target of winning €1.25bn over the programme period. Irish SMEs can engage in large collaborative projects, or seek support through a new dedicated SME instrument for highly innovative smaller companies. The amount of red tape has been slashed and a risk finance support for SMEs is being put in place to generate commercial value from their research, resulting in economic growth and job creation.
Commissioner Geoghegan-Quinn outlined the opportunities presented by Horizon 2020:
Investment in research, innovation and science is essential if Europe and Ireland are to create new high-quality jobs. Horizon 2020 funding is based on competitive calls that are open to everyone. It is up to individual researchers, research organisations, companies or other organisations to get involved.
Horizon 2020 has an increased budget of nearly 30% in real terms compared with its predecessor, the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7). Ireland was successful in achieving the national target of winning €600M in funding from FP7.
Read the full press release
here.