Millions of euros available to work with European partners across a range of fields.
If you’re an innovative UK business or researcher who wants to collaborate with peers in Europe, you can apply for funding in areas including:
- aerospace
- critical infrastructure
- digital security
- high-performance computing (HPC)
- clean technologies
You can also take advantage of individual fellowships, which for the first time have been extended to non-academic organisations. This is to bridge the gap between academia and industry, facilitate career moves and open more attractive opportunities.
Funding is being released through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 work programme, which supports and removes barriers to innovation in Europe to produce world-class science.
Learn more about Horizon 2020.
EU funding and the UK
UK businesses and universities are encouraged to bid for EU funding while the UK remains a member. It has committed to underwriting payment of awards even when projects continue beyond UK membership.
Read the UK government’s guarantee on funding.
The funding opportunities:
Critical infrastructure
This topic area covers the prevention, detection, response and mitigation of the combination of physical and cyber threats to the critical infrastructure of Europe. The list remaining for the 2017 call for proposals are:
- communication infrastructure
- health services
- financial services
Total budget: 10 million euros
Close date: 24 August 2017
Apply for critical infrastructure.
Digital security focus area
Under the work programme ‘Secure societies – protecting freedom and security of Europe and its citizens’, funding is available for 2 topics:
- privacy, data protection and digital identities
- addressing advanced cyber security threats and threat actors
Total budget: 36.5 million euros
Close date: 24 August
Apply for digital security focus area.
Security
There are various calls open under the header of security, including:
- big data and data analytics for risk management in the supply chain
- risk-based screening at border crossing
- broadband communications systems and networks
Total budget: 130.05 million euros
Close date: 24 August 2017
Bio-based industries joint undertaking
The annual call encourages all stakeholders (large industries, SMEs, technology providers, academia and other research and technology organisations) to take part and contribute to the deployment of a new and sustainable economy.
Indicative budget: 81 million euros
Close date: 7 September 2017
Apply for bio-based industries joint undertaking.
Horizon prize: engine retrofit for clean air
Current engines exhibit noxious emissions while driving. The prize aims to reduce the pollution produced by the existing fleet, by promoting the development of retrofittable technology, such as, devices or modification of existing engines that reduce emissions of pollutants in real driving conditions to the lowest level possible.
Total budget: 1.5 million euros
Closing date: 12 September 2017
Apply for Horizon prize: engine retrofit for clean air.
Individual fellowships
The individual fellowships are designed to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers who wish to diversify their individual competence through advanced training, international and cross-sector opportunities.
This call will support placements for researchers into academic and non-academic organisations.
Total budget: 10 million euros
Close date: 14 September 2017
Apply for individual fellowships.
FET proactive: high-performance computing
By leveraging existing European strengths in high-performance computing, this competition aims to support and take advantage of the evolution from peta to exascale computing.
The latest calls are for the transition to exascale computing and exascale HPC ecosystem development.
Total budget: 40 million euros
Closing date: 26 September 2017
Apply for FET proactive: high-performance computing.
Horizon prize: materials for clean air
In the EU, the average life expectancy is estimated to be decreased by 8.6 months, because of exposure to particulate matter resulting from human activities.
This prize is for an individual or team that develops the best innovative design-driven material solution to reduce the concentration of particulate matter in urban areas.
Total budget: 3 million euros
Close date: 23 January 2018
Apply for Horizon prize: materials for clean air.
Horizon prize: cleanest engine of the future
This prize aims at reducing the pollution produced by future new vehicles, using either gasoline or diesel fuels and their low biofuel blends available on the market.
The aim is to improve health impacts due to air quality issues in European cities.
The competition opens on 20 April 2017.
Total budget 3.5 million euros
Close date: 20 August 2019
Apply for Horizon prize: cleanest engine of the future.
Nightingale
The more than 5 million euros Nightingale project is aiming to help reduce death and disability from undetected deterioration. It will invite partners to apply for funding to develop innovative wireless, wearable technology that can be coupled with intelligent analysis software to monitor patients in the ward and at home.
Total budget: 5 million euros
Close date: TBC. The tendering process will start in November 2017
Competitive low-carbon energy
This competition focuses on demonstrating innovative renewable energy technologies. This includes:
- photovoltaic electricity
- solar heat
- wind turbines
- ocean energy devices
Total budget: 105 million euros
Close date: 7 September 2017
Apply for competitive low-carbon energy.
Competition information
- all competitions are open, and have varying close dates
- funding opportunities are open to everyone in an EU member state
- projects must be a consortium of at least 3 organisations and each member must have a legal standing such as registered business, partnership or charity
- get in touch with your national contact point for advice and to find consortium partners
Find your national contact point.
Apply for another innovation opportunity.
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Post written by: Vicky Maggiani
Vicky has worked in media for over 20 years and has a wealth of experience in editing and creating copy for a variety of sectors.
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