The European Commission has presented its proposal for Horizon Europe 2028-2034, the European Union’s upcoming framework program for research and innovation. The main novelty is a budget of €175 billion, double that of the current program, aiming to enhance European competitiveness against the United States and China and to promote strategic technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, fusion energy, and the space economy.
The key points of the new Horizon Europe in 20 seconds
- The European Commission proposes to double the budget to €175 billion.
- The program will prioritize AI, quantum computing, defense, space, health, and energy transition.
- Calls for proposals will be simplified, and the time to award grants will be reduced.
- The initiative includes “moonshot” projects to accelerate technologies considered strategic for Europe.
The proposal is part of the European Union’s new multiannual financial framework for 2028-2034 and will still need to be negotiated among the European Commission, the European Parliament, and the Council.
More budget to strengthen European competitiveness
The European Commission believes that innovation will be one of the pillars driving economic growth over the next decade. Therefore, it proposes doubling the program’s budget compared to the current Horizon Europe (2021-2027).
European Commissioner for Startups, Research, and Innovation, Ekaterina Zaharieva, stated that the new program will place research “at the heart of Europe’s economic and investment strategy,” with measures to attract scientific talent, boost innovative startups, and mobilize more private investment.
One of the goals is to bring total research and development investment closer to 3% of GDP, a target that the European Union has been pursuing for years.
Four pillars to finance science and innovation
The new proposal maintains a structure organized around four main pillars.
The first, Excellent Science, will continue funding basic research through the European Research Council (ERC), Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions, and the Joint Research Centre.
The second, Competitiveness and Society, will support collaborative projects related to energy transition, digitalization, industry, defense, or space, as well as maintaining the well-known European Missions.
The third pillar will focus on business innovation. The European Innovation Council (EIC) will expand its capacity to fund high-risk technological projects and will provide greater support to startups linked to dual-use technologies, both civilian and defense-related.
Finally, the fourth pillar will promote the development of the European Research Area (ERA) and strengthen scientific and technological infrastructures.
Less bureaucracy and faster calls for proposals
One of the main demands from universities, research centers, and companies in recent years has been administrative simplification.
The Commission proposes to reduce the number of calls for proposals, streamline application procedures, and shorten the time between call closure and final grant signing.
The goal is to enable projects to start sooner and for researchers to spend less resources on administrative tasks.
AI, quantum computing, and fusion energy among major European projects
The proposal also introduces a new category called moonshot projects, inspired by large-scale programs aimed at solving complex technological challenges.
These projects would combine European, national, and private funding to accelerate the development of technologies considered strategic.
Among the priority areas are:
- Next-generation artificial intelligence.
- Quantum computing.
- Data sovereignty.
- Clean aviation.
- Automated transportation.
- Regenerative therapies.
- Fusion energy.
- Space economy.
- Zero water pollution.
- Ocean observation.
- Future Circular Collider, the upcoming particle accelerator led by CERN.
An economically impactful program
The Commission recalls that the mid-term evaluation of current Horizon Europe estimates that every euro invested could generate up to 11 euros of European GDP growth by 2045.
As of January 2025, the program had funded over 15,000 projects, with an investment exceeding €43 billion.
Although the new budget still needs to go through institutional negotiations, the proposal clearly demonstrates Brussels’ intention to turn research and innovation into one of the top tools for strengthening technological autonomy and European competitiveness over the next decade.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money does the Commission propose for Horizon Europe 2028-2034?
The proposal includes a budget of €175 billion, roughly twice the current program.
What technologies will be prioritized?
Key areas include artificial intelligence, quantum computing, fusion energy, space economy, automated transportation, and data sovereignty.
What are “moonshot” projects?
They are large research and innovation initiatives that combine public and private funding to accelerate the development of strategic technologies for Europe.
When will the new program come into effect?
The proposal must be negotiated and approved by the European Parliament, the Council of the European Union, and the European Commission before entering into force in 2028.
