Ministry of Science: changes in Horizon 2020 will not affect the part important for Poland

Horizon 2020 is the largest research and innovation programme in the history of the European Union. One of the elements of the program are the efforts to broaden participation. Their aim is to reduce disparities between regions of the EU with regard to obtaining funds from Horizon 2020, in order to fully exploit the scientific potential of the entire European Research Area.

The seven-year budget of Horizon 2020 for the period 2014-2020 is expected to exceed 77 billion euros. However, part of this amount - 2.7 billion euros - was supposed to be moved to investments within the framework of the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI), which was announced in late November by the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker. Last Thursday, a compromise on the implementation of the investment plan was agreed by the negotiators of the European Parliament and governments of EU Member States.

The original Commission proposal foresaw a shift of 3.3 billion euros to EFSI from the Connecting Europe Facility programme, and 2.7 billion euros from Horizon 2020. During the negotiations concerns expressed by many MEPs were taken into account and the planned transfers to the EFSI reduced. It was agreed that the shift would be reduced by 1 billion euros.

"Some of the funds originally planned for Horizon 2020 have been moved to EFSI, but we managed to stop the cuts in the area which was particularly important for us, namely in the >>broader participation<< package" - explained the Ministry of Science and Higher Education press office.

According to the Ministry of Science, Minister Lena Kolarska-Bobińska and six other European science ministers argued for this result. Increase of Polish participation in Horizon 2020 is one of the strategic objectives of the Ministry of Science. "It is very good news for Poland, because this package includes instruments such as Teaming, Twinning and ERA Chairs. The ultimate goal, which the Ministry of Science set for itself before these negotiations, has been achieved " - reads the Ministry of Science release.

Despite lower funds from Horizon 2020 and CEF, the amount of the whole European Fund for Strategic Investments - 21 billion euros - will not be reduced. The EC will have to find these funds in the margins of the EU budget. EFSI is expected to generate investments worth 315 billion euros. "In the framework of the European Fund for Strategic Investments, this summer it will be possible to mobilize resources for investments that should create new jobs and generate innovation" - reported the Ministry of Science.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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