POSITION | INNOVATIONSPOLITIK | HEU MIDTERM EVALUATION
Horizon Europe Midterm Evaluation 2021-2023 Perspective of German industry
February 23, 2023 Horizon Europe Evaluation 2021-2023 Europe, its citizens, and companies alike have been massively affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as well as the economic and security-related implications of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Based on public and private investments in technological innovation; its values, and the investment of huge amounts of public and private money, Europe has been able to demonstrate a huge degree of resilience and robustness. Nonetheless, the challenges we face today will augment in the months and years to come – not least due to climate change, geopolitical tensions and the green and digital transformation of society (“twin transition”). To fully reap the benefits of the green and digital transition as well as to tackle the crises ahead, research and innovation are paramount. The main instrument of EU research and innovation policy is the 9th European Framework Programme for Research and Innovation “Horizon Europe”. Horizon Europe (HEU) is the world's largest publicly funded research and innovation programme with a budget of €95.4 billion for the period 2021-2027. The regulation was finally adopted in 2021, with the programme starting on April 1st, 2021. What makes HEU so unique is that it combines research and innovation instruments in one joint framework programme along the whole research and innovation chain – from basic research to innovation. HEU plays a constantly increasing role for German innovators and companies, be it large corporates, mid-Caps, SMEs, or Start-Ups. Furthermore, a high level of industry participation is essential to achieve Horizon Europe’s ambitious goals and to increase the EUs competitiveness and technological sovereignty. The Federation of German Industries (BDI) has therefore contributed its expertise to the development and negotiation process of HEU from the very beginning with the experts from BDI’s member associations and from various German companies. Considering the upcoming HEU-midterm review, it is important to take stock of the first one and a half years of the programme and draw lessons for the second half – and finally also for the successor programme of HEU – namely Framework Programme 10 (FP 10).
Christian Rudelt | Digitalisation and Innovation | T: +49 30 2028-1572 | c.rudelt@bdi.eu | www.bdi.eu