Horizon 2020 is the new Eighth Framework Programme (FP) of the European Union for Research and Innovation, launched as the financial instrument that will implement the Innovation Union, one of the Europe 2020 flagship initiative, for the period 2014-2020 with a budget of € 80 billion.

FPs are the main financial tools through which the European Union supports research and development activities covering almost all scientific disciplines. The FPs have been implemented since 1984 and used to cover a period of five years, after the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), the period is extended to seven years.

International cooperation is an important priority of Horizon 2020 cross through different specific actions focused on strategic priorities. Find more information on the website of the European Commission.

In terms of thematic areas, Horizon 2020 is based on three pillars: