European Funding programs

Emerging companies and research institutions can find many opportunities for research and development projects in Europe. The European Commission has budgeted €1.8 trillion to reach the long-term priorities across different policy areas, which will be spread between 2021 to 2027. The long term goals aim to support the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, companies, researchers, students, and neighbouring countries, with the aim of providing a brighter future for citizens. We have created a summary of major European funding programs on this page.

Overview of European funding programs

According to the application’s field of a certain research or product, stage of development, and type of applicant developing the solution, various funding programs are available. We have summarized the main funding options for innovative solutions below:

• Horizon Europe– Main European grant program to support innovation and research (Cat page link)
• Programme for Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)– Supports climate and environmental actions. LIFE program supports research and development from SMEs or research organization that target specific calls for actions.
• Innovation Fund– Supporting innovation in energy intensive industries, renewables, energy storage, and carbon capture.
• Just Transition Fund- to support EU regions most affected by the transition to a low carbon economy.
• Connecting Europe Facility– Supporting infrastructure investments across Europe, applicants of these funds are usually established companies or public organizations which aim to collaborate in a consortium to develop interconnecting facilities (transport, energy, digital)
• EU4Health– Supporting research, development, and implementation of disease prevention, crisis preparedness, health systems, and digital solutions.
• European Space Program- To support EU space activities, scientific, technical progress, and the competitiveness and innovation capacity of the European space industry.
• Eureka– International network to foster European competitiveness and integration and to encourage R&D cooperation.
• European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST)– provides international research funding for researchers and innovators to set up interdisciplinary research networks in Europe and beyond, this can include all fields of science and technology.
• Joint Programs- When a group of EU Member state, Regions, and Associated States publish a joint call for a particular topic or research area.

When applying for EU funding programs, SMEs or research organizations might be required to form a consortium with a minimum number of entities from different EU countries or other associated countries, as is the case for Eurostars projects. To find the best suited program to your innovation, or for expert support for your application, contact Catalyze today.