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Ireland has reached the momentous milestone of having won just over €1 billion to date from the current European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon 2020. Horizon 2020 began in 2014 and will conclude in the main at the end of this year, with the launch of the next Framework Programme, Horizon Europe in 2021.

Speaking in relation to Ireland’s significant success, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris T.D. stated, “I wish to congratulate every applicant and all those who supported them including the Horizon 2020 National Contact Points and the staff in the research offices of our Higher Education Institutions and the wider Irish research and innovation ecosystem who contributed to this achievement. Horizon 2020 is a highly competitive programme with excellence at its core, and the funding of over €1 billion Ireland has won to date demonstrates the calibre and the quality of Irish participants. It provides a great foundation for Ireland to build on in the upcoming Horizon Europe Programme.”

Areas of particular success for Ireland in Horizon 2020 include the European Research Council which has secured €135.7 million in funding for Ireland and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA) from which Ireland has won €176.06 million. Importantly, Irish SMEs also continue to enjoy considerable success, accounting for €255 million of the total.

Under the previous Framework Programme 7 which also lasted for a period of seven years, Ireland had a total drawdown of €627.9 million. Today’s announcement recognises the significant progress and consistent hard work of Irish researchers, innovators, universities, institutes of technology, SMEs and all other research organisations in the pursuit of new discoveries, scientific and technological advancement and innovation.

“I would like to highlight this magnificent achievement in order to encourage all in our research and innovation community to consider getting involved in the remainder of Horizon 2020 and in Horizon Europe,” stated Minister Harris.

A European Green Deal call was launched on 17 September, to target investment to boost the green and digital transition. On 13 October, Enterprise Ireland and Invest Northern Ireland are hosting an international conference through the European Enterprise Network (EEN) to inform potential applicants and to support them to form competitive international consortia.

There are financial and advisory supports and information for potential applicants wishing to explore the Green Deal and other available and upcoming opportunities from the national contact point network coordinated by Enterprise Ireland.