European Union

Horizon 2020 – the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation

Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, is the European Union’s main instrument for promoting research, technological development and innovation until 2020. The EU has set three main emphases with Horizon 2020:

• Promoting excellent science
• Strengthening industrial leadership
• Addressing major societal concerns, such as health, climate, energy, food safety and security

The various programmes of Horizon 2020 make a significant contribution to the networking of the European research landscape and the formation of a European Research Area (ERA). It is the biggest EU research and innovation programme ever with nearly 80 billion euros of funding available over 7 years.

Over 24 billion euros of that total is being made available for excellent science and bottom-up projects. These funds will be allocated to various programmes:  

• The European Research Council (ERC), an EU body that aims to promote basic research, receives the largest budget in this area with 13.1 billion euros
• 6.2 billion euros is being made available for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, a programme that primarily aims to improve researchers’ mobility and career development
• 2.7 billion euros are being invested in Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
• Roughly 2.5 billion euros are provided for European Research Infrastructures

The two programmes ERC Grants and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions award funding for international research collaborations and grants for researchers who are at the beginning of an independent research career as well as experienced researchers. 

ERC Grants – support for excellent scientists

The European Research Council aims to support ground-breaking research in all research disciplines with ERC Grants.

• Starting Grants support research projects by junior researchers at the beginning of their careers with up to 2 million euros for a maximum period of 5 years
• Consolidator Grants support experienced junior researchers with up to 2.75 million euros for a period of up to 5 years
• Advanced Grants finance pioneering research by outstanding experienced researchers with up to 3.5 million euros for up to 5 years
• Synergy Grants support groups of 2 to 4 outstanding researchers and their teams with up to 10 million euros for a maximum of six years

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions – support for research training and career development

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) primarily aims to improve researchers’ mobility and career development. MSC Actions offer a variety of different sponsorship programmes, ranging from individual fellowships to (host-driven) institutional actions.

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie European Fellowships fund research stays by experienced researchers for up to 2 years in an EU member state or associated country
• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellowships fund research stays by experienced researchers for up to 2 years in a third country (e.g. USA, Canada, China) with a mandatory return phase of 1 year in an EU member state or associated country

National Contact Points for EU funding

Working on behalf of the German government, the Network of German National Contact Points for Horizon 2020 offers free-of-charge advice and information on EU funding instruments to potential applicants at German research institutions. The following services are provided:

• Individual advice in all questions concerning the application
• Legal and financial information with regard to grant preparation and project management
• Proposal writing and information events in Germany

More: The German National Contact Points MSCA (NCP MSCA) and ERC (NCP ERC) provide information and advice relating to participation in the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and funding provided by the European Research Council.

The European Liaison Office of the German Research Organisations (KoWi) offers information, consulting and training on EU research funding for any EU research project.

The Network of National Contact Points for Horizon 2020 in Germany is coordinated by the DLR-PT, EU Bureau of the BMBF.

Funding programmes:

International postdoctoral researchers with 2 to 7 years of research experience can strengthen their research independence by establishing their own research team.

International senior researchers who completed their PhD thesis between 7 and 12 years ago can strengthen their research independence through the consolidation of their own research team.

Senior researchers of any nationality can carry out research projects at the frontiers of knowledge in all disciplines. Interdisciplinary projects are highly encouraged.