The Guild's recommendations for Horizon Europe's past, present and future

The Commission opened its consultation for Horizon 2020, Horizon Europe and the next Framework Programme (FP10) in December 2022. Respondents are asked to express their views on the performance of Horizon 2020 and Europe (mid-term evaluation), as well as share their recommendations for the future priorities of Horizon Europe, as part of its Strategic Plan for 2025-2027. The Strategic Plan will combine political and R&I priorities, with a growing number of other issues already influencing R&I policies (such as the war in Ukraine and Covid-pandemic). Through its publications, The Guild provides insights into how Horizon Europe can best serve the needs of the European scientific community and achieve world-changing scientific breakthroughs to meet today’s most pressing societal challenges.

Lessons learned and way forward

In its comprehensive contribution to the Horizon Europe interim evaluation covering all pillars of the programme, The Guild highlights the critical need for further investment in research and innovation at the EU level and calls for a better balance within the framework programme’s funding between curiosity-driven and fundamental research on one hand, and challenge-oriented research and close-to-market technological development on the other.

Read our position here

Re-orient Horizon Europe missions to support cutting-edge research

The Guild universities voice their concern about the implementation of the R&I missions after observing low application rates to many calls. The missions’ calls have failed to attract research communities to get involved due to the lack of opportunities for collaborative research. The Guild calls for strengthening the research focus of missions funded from the Horizon Europe budget, so that their original goals of addressing transformative, inter- and transdisciplinary and societal challenges can be met effectively.

Read our statement here

Priorities for strengthening social sciences, arts and humanities research in Horizon Europe

The Guild calls for a stronger role of social sciences, arts and humanities (SSAH) research to address some of the most existential challenges Europeans face today. We welcome the strong support given to SSAH in Horizon Europe's Pillar 1 (ERC and MSCA) and underline the importance of Pillar 2's Cluster 2 on culture, creativity and inclusive society to effectively integrate SSAH research in interdisciplinary calls across clusters.

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Priorities for health research in Horizon Europe

In its recommendations for Health research, The Guild stresses, among other things, the importance to invest in research on healthy ageing which focuses on improving health and well-being at all ages, facilitate large-scale multinational clinical trials on rare diseases and or rare endpoints, ensure safe exchange of health data  and digital solutions to enhance the effectiveness and affordability of healthcare in Europe.

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Priorities for digital and artificial intelligence research in Horizon Europe

In order to enhance Europe's global competitiveness and resilience, The Guild urges the EU to create cutting-edge digital technologies, support the emergence of a human-centered digital economy, intertwine the twin transitions and enhance Europe's democratic governance.

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Insights by The Guild on the EU's framework programmes for research and innovation

In light of the European Commission's consultation on the past, present and future of Horizon Europe, The Guild's experts share their priorities for research focusing on three different areas: social sciences, arts and humanities, health and digital and artificial intelligence. In the final video, Vice-Rector Alberto Credi from the University of Bologna shares his reflections on the framework programme for research and innovation.

Watch all the video clips

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