Brussels, 30 nov (EFE).-the European Commission (EC) has been proposed today awarding 80 billion euros to the following program framework that will fund research and scientific projects in the European Union from 2014 to 2020, which increases by 25 billion budget of the current programme (2007–2013).
The initiative, called “Horizon 2020”, will provide “direct stimulus” to the European economy and stimulate its competitiveness by supporting the development and innovation and to SMEs, according to the European Commissioner for research, innovation and science, Máire Geoghegan-Quinn, who presented the plan at a Conference of press.
For its part, the Commissioner responsible for education and culture, Androulla Vassiliou, announced a new strategic agenda of innovation for the European Institute of innovation and technology (EIT), which will feature 2.8 billion euros, while the Vice-President of the EC, Antonio Tajani, presented a plan for the competitiveness and innovation of SMEs valued at 2,500 million.
The action for the climate, Connie Hedegaard, Commissioner also held that one-third of the total budget of the programme, more than 25,000 million euros will be invested in research related to the environment and, at least 60% of the total, in projects to support sustainable development.
The Commission stressed that the “Horizon 2020”, which will relay to the current seventh programme framework programme for research 2007-2013 (which boasts 55 billion euros), will bring together for the first time to the financing of research and innovation, and will introduce further simplification of rules and procedures to “attract” the best scientists.
Funds of “Horizon 2020” will be divided in three sectors: 24.6 billion euros in science (the budget of the European Research Council will increase 77%), 17.900 million for industrial innovation (of which 13.7 billion will focus on key technologies and support SMEs) and 31,700 million to respond to the “concerns” of the citizens.
These include health, demographic change and welfare, food security, sustainable agriculture, research marina and the bioeconomy; safe, clean and efficient energy; intelligent, ecological and integrated transport; climate change, the efficiency of resources and raw materials, and societies inclusive, innovative and safe.
In detail, the EC explained that 3.5 billion euros to expand the use of financial instruments that make a leverage effect to collect funds from the private sector and financial institutions, while SMEs will have 8,360 million in recognition of his “critical role” for the innovation. invest
Other 6,000 million euros will be devoted to the development of industrial European capabilities of key technologies, such as Photonics and nanoelectronics, nanotechnology, advanced materials or biotechnology.
Will be also awarded 5,750 EUR million (21%) to the projects financed programme Marie Curie, who has already helped more than 50,000 researchers since 1996.
The proposal must now be examined by the EU Council and the European Parliament, with a view to their adoption before the end of 2013. EFE
