### ' article 21 transparency and publication of information member states shall ensure that national regulatory authorities are able to oblige undertakings providing public electronic communications networks and / or publicly available electronic communications services to publish transparent , comparable , adequate and up - to - date information on applicable prices and tariffs , on any charges due on termination of a contract and on standard terms and conditions in respect of access to , and use of , services provided by them to end - users and consumers in accordance with annex ii . such information shall be published in a clear , comprehensive and easily accessible form . national regulatory authorities may specify additional requirements regarding the form in which such information is to be published . 2 . national regulatory authorities shall encourage the provision of comparable information to enable end - users and consumers to make an independent evaluation of the cost of alternative usage patterns , for instance by means of interactive guides or similar techniques . where such facilities are not available on the market free of charge or at a reasonable price , member states shall ensure that national regulatory authorities are able to make such guides or techniques available themselves or through third party procurement . third parties shall have a right to use , free of charge , the information published by undertakings providing electronic communications networks and / or publicly available electronic communications services for the purposes of selling or making available such interactive guides or similar techniques . 3 . member states shall ensure that national regulatory authorities are able to oblige undertakings providing public electronic communications networks and / or publicly available electronic communications services to inter alia : provide applicable tariff information to subscribers regarding any number or service subject to particular pricing conditions ; with respect to individual categories of services , national regulatory authorities may require such information to be provided immediately prior to connecting the call ; inform subscribers of any change to access to emergency services or caller location information in the service to which they have subscribed ; inform subscribers of any change to conditions limiting access to and / or use of services and applications , where such conditions are permitted under national law in accordance with community law ; provide information on any procedures put in place by the provider to measure and shape traffic so as to avoid filling or overfilling a network link , and on how those procedures could impact on service quality ; inform subscribers of their right to determine whether or not to include their personal data in a directory , and of the types of data concerned , in accordance with article 12 of directive 2002 / 58 / ec ; and regularly inform disabled subscribers of details of products and services designed for them . if deemed appropriate , national regulatory authorities may promote self or co - regulatory measures prior to imposing any obligation . 4 . member states may require that the undertakings referred to in paragraph 3 distribute public interest information free of charge to existing and new subscribers , where appropriate , by the same means as those ordinarily used by them in their communications with subscribers . in such a case , that information shall be provided by the relevant public authorities in a standardised format and shall , inter alia , cover the following topics : the most common uses of electronic communications services to engage in unlawful activities or to disseminate harmful content , particularly where it may prejudice respect for the rights and freedoms of others , including infringements of copyright and related rights , and their legal consequences ; and the means of protection against risks to personal security , privacy and personal data when using electronic communications services . ### article 21 is replaced by the following : ' article 21 transparency and publication of information member states shall ensure that providers of electronic communications to the public , save for offers which are individually negotiated , publish transparent , comparable , adequate and up - to - date information on : their name , address and contact information ; for each tariff plan the services offered and the relevant quality of service parameters , the applicable prices and any applicable charges , as well as costs with respect to terminal equipment ; applicable tariffs regarding any number or service subject to particular pricing conditions ; the quality of their services , in accordance with implementing acts provided for in paragraph 2 ; internet access services , where offered , specifying the following : actually available data speed for download and upload in the end - user ' s member state of residence , including at peak - hours ; the level of applicable data volume limitations , if any ; the prices for increasing the available data volume on an ad hoc or lasting basis ; the data speed , and its cost , available after full consumption of the applicable data volume , if limited ; and the means for end - users to monitor at any moment the current level of their consumption ; a clear and comprehensible explanation as to how any data volume limitation , the actually available speed and other quality parameters , and the simultaneous use of specialised services with an enhanced quality of service , may practically impact the use of content , applications and services ; information on any procedures put in place by the provider to measure and shape traffic so as to avoid congestion of a network , and on how those procedures could affect service quality and the protection of personal data ; measures taken to ensure equivalence in access for disabled end - users , including regularly updated information on details of products and services designed for them ; their standard contract terms and conditions , including any minimum contractual period , the conditions for and any charges due on early termination of a contract , the procedures and direct charges related to switching and portability of numbers and other identifiers , and compensation arrangements for delay or abuse of switching ; access to emergency services and caller location information for all services offered , any limitations on the provision of emergency services under article 26 of this directive , and any changes thereto ; rights as regards universal service , including , where appropriate , the facilities and services mentioned in annex i to this directive . the information shall be published in a clear , comprehensive and easily accessible form in the official language of the member state where the service is offered , and be updated regularly . the information shall , on request , be supplied to the relevant national regulatory authorities in advance of its publication . any differentiation in the conditions applied to consumers and other end - users shall be made explicit . 2 . the commission , after consulting berec , shall adopt implementing acts specifying the methods for measuring the speed of internet access services , the quality of service parameters and the methods for measuring them , and the content , form and manner of the information to be published , including possible quality certification mechanisms . the commission may take into account the parameters , definitions and measurement methods set out in annex iii of this directive . those implementing acts shall be adopted in accordance with the examination procedure referred to in article 37 . 3 . end - users shall have access to independent evaluation tools allowing them to compare the performance of electronic communications network access and services and the cost of alternative usage patterns . to this end member states may establish a voluntary certification scheme for interactive websites , guides or similar tools . certification shall be granted on the basis of objective , transparent and proportionate requirements , in particular independence from any provider of electronic communications to the public , the use of plain language , the provision of complete and up - to - date information , and the operation of an effective complaints handling procedure . where certified comparison facilities are not available on the market free of charge or at a nominal price , national regulatory authorities or other competent national authorities shall make such facilities available themselves or through third parties in compliance with the certification requirements . the information published by providers of electronic communications to the public shall be accessible , free of charge , for the purposes of making available comparison facilities . 4 . upon request of the relevant public authorities , providers of electronic communications to the public shall distribute public interest information free of charge to end - users , where appropriate , by the same means as those ordinarily used by them in their communications with end - users . in such a case , that information shall be provided by the relevant public authorities to the providers of electronic communications to the public in a standardised format and may , inter alia , cover the following topics : the most common uses of electronic communications services to engage in unlawful activities or to disseminate harmful content , particularly where it may prejudice respect for the rights and freedoms of others , including infringements of data protection rights , copyright and related rights , and their legal consequences ; and the means of protection against risks to personal security and unlawful access to personal data when using electronic communications services . '


### in addition , there is demand on the part of content , applications and services providers , for the provision of transmission services based on flexible quality parameters , including lower levels of priority for traffic which is not time - sensitive . the possibility for content , applications and service providers to negotiate such flexible quality of service levels with providers of electronic communications to the public is necessary for the provision of specialised services and is expected to play an important role in the development of new services such as machine - to - machine communications . at the same time such arrangements should allow providers of electronic communications to the public to better balance traffic and prevent network congestion . providers of content , applications and services and providers of electronic communications to the public should therefore be free to conclude specialised services agreements on defined levels of quality of service as long as such agreements do not substantially impair the general quality of internet access services . ### in addition , there is demand on the part of content , applications and services providers , for the provision of transmission services based on flexible quality parameters , including lower levels of priority for traffic which is not time - sensitive . the possibility for content , applications and service providers to negotiate such flexible quality of service levels with providers of electronic communications to the public is necessary for the provision of specialised services and is expected to play an important role in the development of new services such as machine - to - machine communications . at the same time such arrangements should allow providers of electronic communications to the public to better balance traffic and prevent network congestion . providers of content , applications and services and providers of electronic communications to the public should therefore be free to conclude specialised services agreements on defined levels of quality of service as long as such agreements do not impair the quality of internet access services .


### within the limits of any contractually agreed data volumes or speeds for internet access services , providers of internet access services shall not restrict the freedoms provided for in paragraph 1 by blocking , slowing down , degrading or discriminating against specific content , applications or services , or specific classes thereof , except in cases where it is necessary to apply reasonable traffic management measures . reasonable traffic management measures shall be transparent , non - discriminatory , proportionate and necessary to : implement a legislative provision or a court order , or prevent or impede serious crimes ; b ) preserve the integrity and security of the network , services provided via this network , and the end - users ' terminals ; c ) prevent the transmission of unsolicited communications to end - users who have given their prior consent to such restrictive measures ; d ) minimise the effects of temporary or exceptional network congestion provided that equivalent types of traffic are treated equally . reasonable traffic management shall only entail processing of data that is necessary and proportionate to achieve the purposes set out in this paragraph . ### providers of internet access services shall not restrict the freedoms provided for in paragraph 1 by discriminating against , restricting , or otherwise interfering with the transmission of internet traffic except in cases where it is necessary to apply reasonable traffic management measures or to implement a court order . such measures shall be set by transparent procedures , not be maintained longer than strictly necessary and provide adequate safeguards ; in particular to ensure that any restrictions are limited to what is necessary , non - discriminatory and proportionate . those safeguards shall be subject to periodic review and include the possibility of judicial redress . reasonable traffic management shall only entail processing of data that is necessary and proportionate to achieve the purposes set out in this article .


### national regulatory authorities shall closely monitor and ensure the effective ability of end - users to benefit from the freedoms provided for in article 23 and , compliance with article 23 , and the continued availability of non - discriminatory internet access services at levels of quality that reflect advances in technology and that are not impaired by specialised services . they shall , in cooperation with other competent national authorities , also monitor the effects of specialised services on cultural diversity and innovation . national regulatory authorities shall report on an annual basis to the commission and berec on their monitoring and findings . ### national regulatory authorities shall closely monitor and ensure the effective ability of end - users to benefit from the freedoms provided for in article 23 and and the continued availability of open internet access services at levels of quality that reflect advances in technology and that are not impaired by specialised services . they shall , in cooperation with other competent national authorities , also ensure that the effects of specialised services do not impair cultural diversity , media pluralism and innovation . national regulatory authorities shall also closely monitor and ensure the application of reasonable traffic management measures in compliance with article 23 taking the utmost account of the berec guidelines specified in paragraph 2 of this article and in paragraph 3a of article 21 of the directive 2002 / 22 / ec . reasonable traffic management measures shall be subject to periodic review to reflect advances in technology . national regulatory authorities shall report on an annual basis to the commission and berec on their monitoring and findings .


### freedom to provide and avail of open internet access , and reasonable traffic management ### open internet access , specialised services , and proportionate technical traffic management


### ‘ internet access service’ means a publicly available electronic communications service that provides connectivity to the internet , and thereby connectivity between virtually all end points connected to the internet , irrespective of the network technology used ; ### ‘ open internet access service’ means a publicly available electronic communications service that provides connectivity to the internet at a level of quality that reflects the advances in technology , and thereby allows for connectivity between all end points connected to the internet , irrespective of the network technology used and without any restrictions to the legal content exchanged . it enables end - users to run any application utilising the electronic communication function of the internet . unrestricted internet access service is based on the best efforts principle , the only exceptions allowed are proportionate technical traffic management measures or implementation of court order . ;


### as this regulation harmonises only certain sector - specific rules , it should be without prejudice to the general consumer protection rules , as established by union acts and national legislation implementing them . ### this regulation should be without prejudice to the general consumer protection rules , as established by union acts and national legislation implementing them .


### ' 1 . with effect from 1 july 2012 , the average wholesale charge that the visited network operator may levy on the roaming customer ' s home provider for the provision of regulated data roaming services by means of that visited network shall not exceed a safeguard limit of eur 0 , 25 per megabyte of data transmitted . the safeguard limit shall decrease to eur 0 , 15 per megabyte of data transmitted on 1 july 2013 and to eur 0 , 05 per megabyte of data transmitted on 1 july 2014 and shall , without prejudice to article 19 , remain at eur 0 , 05 per megabyte of data transmitted until 30 june 2022 . ### article 12 is replaced by the following : ' 1 . with effect from 1 july 2013 , the average wholesale charge that the visited network operator may levy on the roaming customer ' s home provider for the provision of regulated data roaming services by means of that visited network shall not exceed a safeguard limit of eur 0 , 15 per megabyte of data transmitted . the safeguard limit shall decrease to eur 0 , 05 per megabyte of data transmitted on 1 july 2014 and to eur 0 , 0050 per megabyte of data transmitted on 1 july 2015 and shall remain at eur 0 , 0050 per megabyte of data transmitted until 30 june 2022 . '


### ' internet access service ' means a publicly available electronic communications service that provides connectivity to the internet , and thereby connectivity between virtually all end points connected to the internet , irrespective of the network technology used ; ### ' open internet access service ' means a publicly available electronic communications service that provides connectivity to the internet , and thereby connectivity between virtually all end points connected to the internet , irrespective of the network technology used ; the member states shall impose reasonable minimum requirements on the service quality of open internet access services , reflecting technological progress ; an open internet access service enables end - users to use any internet - based application in accordance with the best effort principle ; the only permissible derogation from this principle is proportionate , justified traffic management , in cases where the conditions for its use are clearly defined ;


### within the limits of any contractually agreed data volumes or speeds for internet access services , providers of internet access services shall not restrict the freedoms provided for in paragraph 1 by blocking , slowing down , degrading or discriminating against specific content , applications or services , or specific classes thereof , except in cases where it is necessary to apply reasonable traffic management measures . reasonable traffic management measures shall be transparent , non - discriminatory , proportionate and necessary to : ### providers of internet access services shall not restrict the freedoms provided for in paragraph 1 by blocking , slowing down , degrading or discriminating against , restricting specific content , applications or services , or specific classes thereof , except in cases where it is necessary to apply reasonable traffic management measures or to implement a court order . traffic management measures shall be considered reasonable when they are deployed to more efficiently manage traffic on the network in order to preserve the integrity and security of the network , and more efficiently manage traffic on the network in demonstrated punctual cases of acute congestion , provided equivalent types of traffic are treated equally . these measures shall be transparent , non - discriminatory , proportionate .


### in an open internet , providers of electronic communications to the public should , within contractually agreed limits on data volumes and speeds for internet access services , not block , slow down , degrade or discriminate against specific content , applications or services or specific classes thereof except for a limited number of reasonable traffic management measures . such measures should be transparent , proportionate and non - discriminatory . reasonable traffic management encompasses prevention or impediment of serious crimes , including voluntary actions of providers to prevent access to and distribution of child pornography . minimising the effects of network congestion should be considered reasonable provided that network congestion occurs only temporarily or in exceptional circumstances . ### in an open internet , providers of electronic communications to the public should not block , slow down , degrade or discriminate against specific content , applications or services or specific classes thereof except for a limited number of reasonable traffic management measures . such measures should be transparent , proportionate and non - discriminatory . reasonable traffic management encompasses minimising the effects of network congestion , provided that network congestion occurs only temporarily or in exceptional circumstances . the use of legislation to influence traffic does not fall with the scope of the definition of traffic management .


### the exercise of the freedoms provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be facilitated by the provision of complete information in accordance with article 25 , article 26 , and article 27 and . ### end - users shall be provided with complete information in accordance with article 20 , article 21 and article 21a of directive 2002 / 22 / ec , including information on any reasonable traffic management measures applied that might affect access to and distribution of information , content , applications and services as specified in paragraphs 1 and 2 .


### national regulatory authorities shall closely monitor and ensure the effective ability of end - users to benefit from the freedoms provided for in article 23 and , compliance with article 23 , and the continued availability of non - discriminatory internet access services at levels of quality that reflect advances in technology and that are not impaired by specialised services . they shall , in cooperation with other competent national authorities , also monitor the effects of specialised services on cultural diversity and innovation . national regulatory authorities shall report on an annual basis to the commission and berec on their monitoring and findings . ### national regulatory authorities shall closely monitor and ensure the effective ability of end - users to benefit from the freedoms provided for in article 23 and , compliance with article 23 , and the continued availability of non - discriminatory internet access services at levels of quality that reflect advances in technology and that are not impaired by specialised services . they shall , in cooperation with other competent national authorities , also monitor the effects of specialised services on cultural diversity , competition and innovation . national regulatory authorities shall publish reports regarding their monitoring and findings on an annual basis and submit them to the commission and berec .


### in addition , there is demand on the part of content , applications and services providers , for the provision of transmission services based on flexible quality parameters , including lower levels of priority for traffic which is not time - sensitive . the possibility for content , applications and service providers to negotiate such flexible quality of service levels with providers of electronic communications to the public is necessary for the provision of specialised services and is expected to play an important role in the development of new services such as machine - to - machine communications . at the same time such arrangements should allow providers of electronic communications to the public to better balance traffic and prevent network congestion . providers of content , applications and services and providers of electronic communications to the public should therefore be free to conclude specialised services agreements on defined levels of quality of service as long as such agreements do not substantially impair the general quality of internet access services . ### in addition , there is demand on the part of content , applications and services providers , for the provision of transmission services based on quality parameters , including lower levels of priority for traffic which is not time - sensitive . the possibility for content , applications and service providers to negotiate such special quality of service levels with providers of electronic communications to the public is necessary for the provision of specialised services and is expected to play an important role in the development of new services such as machine - to - machine communications . at the same time such arrangements should allow providers of electronic communications to the public to better balance traffic and prevent network congestion . providers of content , applications and services and providers of electronic communications to the public should therefore be free to conclude specialised services agreements on defined levels of quality of service as long as such agreements do not impair the general quality of open internet access services .


### as this regulation harmonises only certain sector - specific rules , it should be without prejudice to the general consumer protection rules , as established by union acts and national legislation implementing them . ### this regulation should be without prejudice to the general consumer protection rules , as established by union acts and national legislation implementing them , in particular directive 2011 / 83 / eu of the european parliament and of the council24a . __________________ 24a directive 2011 / 83 / eu of the european parliament and of the council of 25 october 2011 on consumer rights , amending council directive 93 / 13 / eec and directive 1999 / 44 / ec of the european parliament and of the council and repealing council directive 85 / 577 / eec and directive 97 / 7 / ec of the european parliament and of the council .


### the allowance referred to in point 2 shall be deemed adequate if it guarantees income equivalent to the last monthly salary or an average monthly salary , subject to any ceiling laid down under national legislation . such a ceiling may not be lower than the allowance received by workers within the meaning of article 2 in the event of a break in activity on grounds connected with the worker ' s state of health . the member states may lay down the period over which this average monthly salary is calculated . ### the allowance referred to in point 2 shall be deemed adequate if it guarantees income for the compulsory period equivalent to the last monthly salary or an average monthly salary .


### member states and national equality bodies shall communicate to the commission , by [ five years after adoption ] at the latest and every five years thereafter , all the information necessary for the commission to draw up a report to the european parliament and the council on the application of directive 92 / 85 / eec as amended by this directive . ### member states and national equality bodies shall communicate to the commission , by [ five years after adoption ] at the latest and every three years thereafter , all the information necessary for the commission to draw up a report to the european parliament and the council on the application of directive 92 / 85 / eec as amended by this directive .


### member states shall take the necessary measures to ensure that additional leave is granted in the case of premature childbirth , children hospitalised at birth , children with disabilities and multiple births . the duration of the additional leave should be proportionate and allow the special needs of the mother and the child / children to be accommodated . ### member states shall take the necessary measures to ensure that additional leave of four weeks is granted in the case of premature childbirth or multiple births or if the mother is breastfeeding .


### the commission ' s report shall take account , as appropriate , of the viewpoints of the social partners and relevant non - governmental organisations . in accordance with the principle of gender mainstreaming , the report shall inter alia provide an assessment of the impact on women and men of the measures taken . in the light of the information received , the report shall , where necessary , include proposals to revise and update directive 92 / 85 / eec as amended by this directive . ### the commission ' s report shall take account , as appropriate , of the viewpoints of the social partners and relevant non - governmental organisations . in the light of the information received , the report shall , where necessary , include proposals to revise and update directive 92 / 85 / eec as amended by this directive .


### member states shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to breaches of national provisions adopted pursuant to this directive , and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are applied . penalties may comprise payment of compensation , which may not be limited by the fixing of a prior upper limit , and must be effective , proportionate and dissuasive . ### member states shall lay down the rules on penalties applicable to breaches of national provisions adopted pursuant to this directive , and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are applied . penalties may comprise payment of compensation and must be effective and proportionate .


### the maternity leave stipulated in paragraph 1 shall include compulsory leave of at least six weeks after childbirth . the member states shall take the necessary measures to ensure that workers within the meaning of article 2 are entitled to choose freely the time at which the non - compulsory portion of the maternity leave is taken , before or after childbirth . ### the maternity leave stipulated in paragraph 1 shall include compulsory fully paid maternity leave of at least six weeks after childbirth , without prejudice to existing national laws which provide for a period of compulsory maternity leave before childbirth . the member states shall take the necessary measures to ensure that workers within the meaning of article 2 are entitled to choose freely the time at which the non - compulsory portion of the maternity leave is taken , before or after childbirth . the six week period of compulsory maternity leave shall apply to all working women regardless of the number of days worked prior to confinement .


### these six activity lines shall also include ict specific research infrastructures such as living labs for large - scale experimentation , and infrastructures for underlying key enabling technologies and their integration in advanced products and innovative smart systems , including equipment , tools , support services , clean rooms and access to foundries for prototyping . ### these six activity lines shall also include ict specific research infrastructures such as living labs for large - scale experimentation , and infrastructures for underlying key enabling technologies and their integration in advanced products and innovative smart systems , including equipment , tools , support services , clean rooms and access to foundries for prototyping . the european union must pursue excellence and focus on future - oriented areas and strategically important technologies , in line with the conclusions of the june 2011 final report of the high - level expert group on key enabling technologies .


### the implementation of horizon 2020 should respond to the evolving opportunities and needs from science and technology , industry , policies and society . as such , the agendas should be set in close liaison with stakeholders from all sectors concerned , and sufficient flexibility should be allowed for new developments . external advice should be sought on a continuous basis during horizon 2020 , also making use of relevant structures such as european technology platforms , joint programming initiatives and the european innovation partnerships . ### the implementation of horizon 2020 should respond to the evolving opportunities and needs from science and technology , industry , policies and society . as such , the agendas should be set in close liaison with stakeholders from all sectors concerned , and sufficient flexibility should be allowed for new developments and bottom - up approaches , especially with regard to emerging science and technology fields and inter - and trans - disciplinary research . external advice should be sought on a continuous basis during horizon 2020 . the input of relevant structures such as the european institute of innovation and technology and its knowledge and innovation communities , european technology platforms , joint programming initiatives and the european innovation partnerships will be fully taken into account , given their crucial role in the process of identifying the research needs .


### addressing the availability of raw materials calls for co - ordinated research and innovation efforts across many disciplines and sectors to help provide safe , economically feasible , environmentally sound and socially acceptable solutions along the entire value chain . innovation in these fields will provide opportunities for growth and jobs , as well as innovative options involving science , technology , the economy , policy and governance . for this reason , a european innovation partnership on raw materials is being prepared . ### addressing the availability of raw materials calls for co - ordinated research and innovation efforts across many disciplines and sectors to help provide safe , economically feasible , environmentally sound and socially acceptable solutions along the entire value chain . water challenges include water use in rural , urban and industrial environments and the protection of aquatic ecosystems . innovation in these fields will provide opportunities for growth and jobs , as well as innovative options involving science , technology , the economy , policy and governance . for this reason , european innovation partnerships on water efficiency and raw materials are being prepared .


### disease and disability are not stopped by national borders . an appropriate european level research and innovation response can and should make a crucial contribution to addressing these challenges , deliver better health and wellbeing for all , and position europe as a leader in the rapidly expanding global markets for health and wellbeing innovations . ### disease and disability are not stopped by national borders . an appropriate european - level research and innovation response in partnership with third countries can and should make a crucial contribution to addressing these global challenges , thus helping to a achieve the millennium development goals and to deliver better health and well - being for all and to position europe as a leader in the rapidly expanding global markets for health and well - being innovations .


### disease and disability are not stopped by national borders . an appropriate european level research and innovation response can and should make a crucial contribution to addressing these challenges , deliver better health and wellbeing for all , and position europe as a leader in the rapidly expanding global markets for health and wellbeing innovations . ### disease and disability are not stopped by national borders . an appropriate european level research and innovation response in partnership with third countries can and should make a crucial contribution to addressing these global challenges , thereby working to achieve the millennium development goals , deliver better health and wellbeing for all , and position europe as a leader in the rapidly expanding global markets for health and wellbeing innovations .


### horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation in the european union , focuses on three priorities , namely generating excellent science in order to strengthen the union ' s world - class excellence in science , fostering industrial leadership to support business , including small and medium - sized enterprises and innovation and tackling societal challenges , in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market . horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain , especially activities closer to the market including innovative financial instruments , as well as non - technological and social innovation , and aims to satisfy the research needs of a broad spectrum of union policies by placing emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation . the priorities of horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the euratom treaty on nuclear research and training . ### horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation in the european union , focuses on three priorities , namely generating excellent science in order to strengthen the union ' s world - class excellence in science , fostering industrial leadership to support business , including small and medium - sized enterprises and innovation and tackling societal challenges , in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market . while the union added value lies mainly in funding pre - competitive , transnational , collaborative research , which should form the heart of horizon 2020 , it is necessary to place as well emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation . . therefore , horizon 2020 should support all stages in the research and innovation chain , including basic research , applied research , knowledge transfer , innovative financial instruments , as well as non - technological and social innovation . horizon 2020 should trigger considerable leverage from other sources , whereby activities closer to the market should attract funding from the structural funds , national / regional funding and the private sector . the priorities of horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the euratom treaty on nuclear research and training .


### the integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 is expected to lead to around 15% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and the priority ‘ societal challenges’ going to smes . ### the integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 should lead to more than 15% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and the priority ‘ societal challenges’ going to smes .


### specific actions shall be undertaken within the specific objective ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ set out in point 1 of part ii of annex i and each of the specific objectives under the priority ‘ societal challenges’ set out in points 1 to 6 of part iii of annex i . these specific actions shall take the form of a dedicated sme instrument that is targeted at all types of smes with an innovation potential and shall be implemented in a consistent manner and tailored to the needs of smes as set out under the specific objective ‘ innovation in smes’ in point 3 . 3 . of part ii of annex i . ### specific actions for smes shall be undertaken within the specific objective ' leadership in enabling and industrial technologies ' set out in point 1 of part ii of annex i and each of the specific objectives under the priority ' societal challenges ' set out in points 1 to 6 of part iii of annex i . these specific actions shall take the form of , inter alia , a dedicated sme instrument that is targeted at all types of smes with an innovation potential and shall be implemented in a consistent manner and tailored to the needs of smes as set out under the specific objective ' innovation in smes ' in point 3 . 3 . of part ii of annex i .


### in the union , cvd annually accounts for more than 2 million deaths and costs the economy more than eur 192 billion while cancer accounts for a quarter of all deaths and is the number one cause of death in people aged 45 - 64 . over 27 million people in the union suffer from diabetes and the total cost of brain disorders has been estimated at eur 800 billion . environmental , life - style and socio - economic factors are relevant in several of these conditions with up to one third of the global disease burden estimated to be related to these . ### in the union , cvd annually accounts for more than 2 million deaths and costs the economy more than eur 192 billion . cancer accounts for a quarter of all deaths and is the number one cause of death in people aged 45 - 64 . over 120 million citizens suffer from rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases , while over 27 million people in the union suffer from diabetes and the total cost of brain disorders has been estimated at eur 800 billion . this figure will continue to rise dramatically , largely as a result of europe ' s ageing population and the associated increase in the burden of neurodegenerative diseases , such as parkinson ' s and alzheimer ' s . environmental , life - style and socio - economic factors are relevant in several of these conditions with up to one third of the global disease burden estimated to be related to these . four risk factors together account for the majority of chronic non - communicable diseases : tobacco consumption , unbalanced diets , alcohol intake and lack of physical activity . however , for other conditions , in particular neurodegenerative diseases , effective prevention strategies will require a considerable boost in research into their causes and the development of better early diagnosis and treatment options .


### in order to respond to unforeseen situations or new developments and needs , and to take into account the provisions of paragraph 3 of this article , the commission may , following the interim evaluation of horizon 2020 as referred to in article 26 of this regulation , within the annual budgetary procedure review the amounts set out for the priorities in paragraph 2 and the indicative breakdown by specific objectives within these priorities set out in annex ii and transfer appropriations between the priorities and specific objectives up to 10 % of the total initial allocation of each priority and up to 10 % of the initial indicative breakdown of each specific objective . this does not concern the amount set out for the direct actions of the joint research centre in paragraph 2 or the contribution to the european institute of innovation and technology set out in paragraph 3 . ### in order to respond to unforeseen situations or new developments and needs , and to take into account the provisions of paragraph 3 of this article , the commission may , following the interim evaluation of horizon 2020 as referred to in article 26 of this regulation , within the annual budgetary procedure review the amounts set out for the priorities in paragraph 2 and the indicative breakdown by specific objectives within these priorities set out in annex ii and transfer appropriations between the priorities and specific objectives up to 10 % of the total initial allocation of each priority and up to 10 % of the initial indicative breakdown of each specific objective . this does not concern the amount set out for the direct actions of the joint research centre in paragraph 2 or the contribution to the european institute of innovation and technology set out in paragraph 3 . in reviewing the amounts , the commission shall in particular take into account the contribution of the different parts of the programme to the overall horizon 2020 objectives as results from the assessment of their output based on comparable key indicators .


### specific actions shall be undertaken within the specific objective ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ set out in point 1 of part ii of annex i and each of the specific objectives under the priority ‘ societal challenges’ set out in points 1 to 6 of part iii of annex i . these specific actions shall take the form of a dedicated sme instrument that is targeted at all types of smes with an innovation potential and shall be implemented in a consistent manner and tailored to the needs of smes as set out under the specific objective ‘ innovation in smes’ in point 3 . 3 . of part ii of annex i . ### specific actions shall be undertaken within the specific objective ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ set out in point 1 of part ii of annex i and each of the specific objectives under the priority ‘ societal challenges’ set out in points 1 to 6 of part iii of annex i . these specific actions shall take the form of a dedicated sme instrument that is targeted at all types of smes with an innovation potential and shall be implemented in a consistent manner through a single management and tailored to the needs of smes as set out under the specific objective ‘ innovation in smes’ in point 3 . 3 . of part ii of annex i .


### horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation in the european union , focuses on three priorities , namely generating excellent science in order to strengthen the union ' s world - class excellence in science , fostering industrial leadership to support business , including small and medium - sized enterprises and innovation and tackling societal challenges , in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market . horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain , especially activities closer to the market including innovative financial instruments , as well as non - technological and social innovation , and aims to satisfy the research needs of a broad spectrum of union policies by placing emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation . the priorities of horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the euratom treaty on nuclear research and training . ### horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation in the european union , focuses on three priorities , namely increasing the level of scientific excellence in europe in order to strengthen the union ' s position as a world - class science base , fostering industrial leadership to support business , including small and medium - sized enterprises and innovation and tackling societal challenges , in order to respond directly to the challenges identified in the europe 2020 strategy by supporting activities covering the entire spectrum from research to market . horizon 2020 should support all stages in the innovation chain , especially activities closer to the market including innovative financial instruments , as well as non - technological and social innovation , and aims to satisfy the research needs of a broad spectrum of union policies by placing emphasis on the widest possible use and dissemination of knowledge generated by the supported activities up to its commercial exploitation . the priorities of horizon 2020 should also be supported through a programme under the euratom treaty on nuclear research and training .


### to stay at the forefront of global competition with a strong technological base and industrial capabilities , increased strategic investments in research , development , validation and piloting are required in information and communication technologies ; nanotechnologies ; advanced materials ; biotechnology ; advanced manufacturing and processing ; and space . ### to stay at the forefront of global competition with a strong technological base and industrial capabilities , increased strategic investments in research , development , validation and piloting are required in information and communication technologies ; nanotechnologies ; quantum optics ; advanced materials ; biotechnology ; advanced manufacturing and processing ; robotics ; and space .


### development of emerging technology areas such as synthetic biology , bioinformatics and systems biology , which hold great promise for completely novel applications . ### development of emerging technology areas such as biology systems , bio - informatics and synthetic biology and systems biology , which hold great promise for completely novel applications .


### research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of human beings which could make such changes heritable ; ### research activity intended to modify the genetic heritage of the human person and of animals which could make such changes heritable ;


### social sciences and humanities shall be an integral part of the activities to address all the challenges . in addition , the underpinning development of these disciplines shall be supported under the specific objective ‘ inclusive , innovative and secure societies’ . support will also focus on providing a strong evidence base for policy making at international , union , national and regional levels . given the global nature of many of the challenges , strategic cooperation with third countries shall be an integral part of each challenge . in addition , cross - cutting support for international cooperation shall be provided under the specific objective ‘ inclusive , innovative and secure societies’ . ### social sciences and humanities shall be an integral part of the activities to address all the challenges . in addition , the underpinning development of these disciplines shall be supported under the specific objective ‘ equal , inclusive , innovative and secure societies ' . likewise , a focus on gender and gender equality will be integrated in all challenges . ‘ support will also focus on providing a strong evidence base for policy making at international , union , national and regional levels . given the global nature of many of the challenges , strategic cooperation with third countries shall be an integral part of each challenge . in addition , cross - cutting support for international cooperation shall be provided under the specific objective ' equal , inclusive , innovative and secure societies ' .


### linkages and interfaces shall be implemented across and within the priorities of horizon 2020 . particular attention shall be paid in this respect to the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies , to bridging from discovery to market application , to cross - disciplinary research and innovation , to social and economic sciences and humanities , to fostering the functioning and achievement of the era , to cooperation with third countries , to responsible research and innovation including gender , and to enhancing the attractiveness of the research profession and to facilitating cross - border and cross - sector mobility of researchers . ### linkages and interfaces shall be implemented across and within the priorities of horizon 2020 . particular attention shall be paid in this respect to the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies , to bridging from discovery to market application , to cross - disciplinary research and innovation , to social and economic sciences and humanities , to a systemic approach of the spatial , urban and territorial issues , to climate change , healthy seas and oceans and sustainable development , to fostering the functioning and achievement of the era , to the development of research into european legal systems , to cooperation with third countries , to ethical responsible research and innovation including the respect of equal opportunities between men and women in research , to more inclusive governance of research , to participatory research , to enhancing the attractiveness of the research profession for both sexes and to facilitating cross - border and cross - sector mobility of researchers .


### research and innovation activities supported by horizon 2020 should respect fundamental ethical principles . the opinions of the european group on ethics in science and new technologies should be taken into account . research activities should also take into account article 13 tfeu and reduce the use of animals in research and testing , with a view ultimately to replacing animal use . all activities should be carried out ensuring a high level of human health protection in accordance with article 168 tfeu . ### research and innovation activities supported by horizon 2020 should respect human rights and fundamental ethical principles . the opinions of the european group on ethics in science and new technologies should be taken into account . research activities should also take into account article 13 tfeu and reduce the use of animals in research and testing , with a view ultimately to replacing animal use . research activities funded by horizon 2020 should respect the legal provisions and customs of the member states . all activities should be carried out ensuring a high level of human health protection in accordance with article 168 tfeu .


### the european commission does not explicitly solicit the use of human embryonic stem cells . the use of human stem cells , be they adult or embryonic , if any , depends on the judgement of the scientists in view of the objectives they want to achieve and is subject to stringent ethics review . no project involving the use of human embryonic stem cells should be funded that does not obtain the necessary approvals from the member states . no activity should be funded that is forbidden in all member states . no activity should be funded in a member state where such activity is forbidden . ### attention should be paid to the considerable differences between national legislations of member states with regard to research using human embryos and human embryonic stem cells . union research policy should not lead to harmonisation of national legislation of member states . the commission should remind its declaration , with regard to the seventh framework programme , to continue the current practice and not submit to the regulatory committee proposals for projects which destroy human embryos , including for the procurement of stem cells . 1 this commitment should be included in this regulation in order to ensure legal certainty and continuity . __________________ 1 point 12 of the commission statement regarding article 6 annexed to decision no 1982 / 2006 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 18 december 2006 concerning the seventh framework programme of the european community for research , technological development and demonstration activities .


### the european commission does not explicitly solicit the use of human embryonic stem cells . the use of human stem cells , be they adult or embryonic , if any , depends on the judgement of the scientists in view of the objectives they want to achieve and is subject to stringent ethics review . no project involving the use of human embryonic stem cells should be funded that does not obtain the necessary approvals from the member states . no activity should be funded that is forbidden in all member states . no activity should be funded in a member state where such activity is forbidden . ### there are considerable differences between national legislations on research using human embryos and human embryonic stem cells . union policy should not seek to harmonise national legislation . in connection with the seventh framework programme , the commission stated that it would ' continue with the current practice and [ would ] not submit to the regulatory committee proposals for projects which include research activities which destroy human embryos , including for the procurement of stem cells ' 1 . it is desirable to insert this commitment into this regulation in order to ensure legal certainty . __________________ 1 point 12 of the commission statement re article 6 , annexed to decision no 1982 / 2006 / ec of the european parliament and of the council of 18 december 2006 concerning the seventh framework programme of the european community for research , technological development and demonstration activities , oj l 412 , 30 . 12 . 2006 , p . 1 .


### particular attention shall be paid to ensuring the adequate participation of , and innovation impact on , small and medium - sized enterprises in horizon 2020 . quantitative and qualitative assessments of sme participation shall be undertaken as part of the evaluation and monitoring arrangements . ### particular attention shall be paid to ensuring the increased participation of , and innovation impact on , the private sector , particularly small and medium - sized enterprises in horizon 2020 . this covers : assistance at all stages of the research cycle , from prototype to full implementation , in order to enable them to fulfil their research potentials , b ) providing special support for intellectual property rights negotiations in open innovation projects , c ) providing support measures to help bridge delays in grants , as cash flow remains a key concern for smes , d ) providing support measures for awareness - raising activities among smes . quantitative and qualitative assessments of private sector , and particularly sme participation shall be undertaken as part of the evaluation and monitoring arrangements .


### targeted actions with the objective of promoting cooperation with specific third countries or groups of third countries shall be implemented on the basis of common interest and mutual benefit , taking into account their scientific and technological capabilities and market opportunities , and the expected impact . ### targeted actions with the objective of promoting cooperation with specific third countries or groups of third countries shall be implemented on the basis of common interest and mutual benefit . these actions shall include , in particular , research capacity building in developing countries and cooperation projects focusing on these countries’ specific needs in areas such as health – including research on neglected diseases – as well as agriculture , fisheries and the environment , and implemented in financial conditions adapted to their capacities .


### the erc ' s scientific council shall continuously monitor the erc ' s operations and consider how best to achieve its objectives by means of grant schemes that emphasise clarity , stability and simplicity , both for applicants and in their implementation and management , and , as necessary , to respond to emerging needs . it shall endeavour to sustain and further refine the erc ' s world - class peer - review system which is based on transparent , fair and impartial treatment of proposals so that it can identify ground - breaking scientific excellence and talent regardless of a researcher ' s gender , nationality or age . finally , the erc shall continue conducting its own strategic studies to prepare for and support its activities , maintain close contacts with the scientific community and other stakeholders and look to make its activities complement research conducted at other levels . ### the erc ' s scientific council shall continuously monitor the erc ' s operations and consider how best to achieve its objectives by means of grant schemes that emphasise clarity , stability and simplicity , both for applicants and in their implementation and management , and , as necessary , to respond to emerging needs . it shall endeavour to sustain and further refine the erc ' s world - class peer - review system which is based on transparent , fair and impartial treatment of proposals so that it can identify ground - breaking scientific excellence and talent regardless of a researcher ' s gender , nationality or age . finally , the erc shall continue conducting its own strategic studies to prepare for and support its activities , maintain close contacts with the scientific community and other stakeholders and look to make its activities complement research conducted at other levels . erc ' s activities and achievements shall be assessed in 2017 by a panel of high level independent managers of research organisations .


### to achieve these reductions , significant investments need to be made in research , development , demonstration and market roll - out of efficient , safe and reliable low - carbon energy technologies and services . these must go hand in hand with non - technological solutions on both the supply and demand sides . all this must be part of an integrated low - carbon policy , including mastering key enabling technologies , in particular ict solutions and advanced manufacturing , processing and materials . the goal is to produce efficient energy technologies and services that can be taken up widely on european and international markets and to establish intelligent demand - side management based on an open and transparent energy trade market and intelligent energy efficiency management systems . ### to achieve these reductions , significant investments need to be made in research , development , demonstration and market roll - out of efficient , safe and reliable low - emission energy technologies and services . these must go hand in hand with non - technological solutions on both the supply and demand sides . all this must be part of an integrated low - emission policy , including mastering key enabling technologies , in particular ict solutions and advanced manufacturing , processing and materials . the goal is to produce efficient energy technologies and services that can be taken up widely on european and international markets and to establish intelligent demand - side management based on an open and transparent energy trade market and intelligent energy efficiency management systems .


### activities shall focus on research , development and full scale demonstration of technologies and value chains to make bio - energy more competitive and sustainable , to reduce time to market for hydrogen and fuel cells and to bring new options showing long - term potential to maturity . ### activities shall focus on research , development and full scale demonstration of technologies and value chains to make bio - energy more competitive and sustainable , use of synthetic biology for the sustainable production of different types of fuels , to reduce time to market for hydrogen and fuel cells and to bring new options showing long - term potential to maturity .


### the activities developed under horizon 2020 should aim at promoting equality between men and women in research and innovation , by addressing in particular the underlying causes of gender imbalance , by exploiting the full potential of both female and male researchers , and by integrating the gender dimension into the content of projects in order to improve the quality of research and stimulate innovation . activities should also aim at the implementation of the principles relating to the equality between women and men as laid down in articles 2 and 3 of the treaty on european union and article 8 tfeu . ### horizon 2020 funded research activities should comply with the eu acquis communautaire with regard to equal opportunities between men and women . horizon 2020 should pay attention to excellent science and to professional qualification of scientific and research personal of both sex involved in research and innovation . in order to assure the effective use of eu funding , the principal distinction for eu research funding should be the excellence of science project and the professional qualification of the research staff .


### the aim is to supply sufficient food , feed , biomass and other raw - materials , while safeguarding natural resources and enhancing ecosystems services , including coping with and mitigating climate change . the activities shall focus on more sustainable and productive agriculture and forestry systems which are both resource - efficient and resilient , while at the same time developing of services , concepts and policies for thriving rural livelihoods . ### the aim is to supply sufficient food , feed , biomass and other raw - materials , while safeguarding natural resources and enhancing ecosystems services , including coping with and mitigating climate change . the activities shall focus on more sustainable and productive agriculture and forestry systems which are both more resource - efficient and resilient , enhancing the quality and value of agricultural products , while at the same time developing services , concepts and policies for thriving rural livelihoods and rural innovative smes . knowledge development capacity and innovation transfers in agriculture shall aim at reversing the continuous decrease of the yield growth potential in europe , and create a virtuous cycle towards achieving a sustainable intensification of union agriculture production . with a view to reducing agriculture ' s carbon footprint , the importance of short supply chains should be underlined .


### research and development to investigate alternatives to the use of materials and innovative business model approaches . ### identification of critical resources . research and development to investigate alternatives to the use of materials and innovative business model approaches .


### the integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 is expected to lead to around 15% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and the priority ‘ societal challenges’ going to smes . ### the integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall lead to a considerable allocation of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ' leadership in enabling and industrial technologies ' and the priority ' societal challenges ' going to smes . private sector beneficiaries are expected to receive a substantial part of the total budget for horizon 2020 .


### the specific objective is to achieve a european transport system that is resource - efficient , environmentally - friendly , safe and seamless for the benefit of citizens , the economy and society . ### the specific objective is to achieve a european transport system that is resource - efficient , environmentally - friendly , safe and seamless for the benefit of citizens , the economy and society . this transport system shall also encompass maritime transport , since there is a substantial potential to support the overall goal of reducing maritime emissions . focus should be on research and innovation activities supporting the introduction of new fuels and integrated solutions for improving total performance . research focusing on maritime transport should be supported in order to enhance step - change in sustainable technologies . for this reason , a european innovation partnership on ' future transport ' to promote a comprehensive approach should be prepared .


### initiatives aimed at widening awareness and facilitating access to funding under horizon 2020 , in particular for those regions or types of participant that are underrepresented ; ### initiatives aimed at widening awareness and facilitating access to funding under horizon 2020 , in particular for those regions or types of participant that are underrepresented , including researchers and participants with disabilities ;


### the european commission does not explicitly solicit the use of human embryonic stem cells . the use of human stem cells , be they adult or embryonic , if any , depends on the judgement of the scientists in view of the objectives they want to achieve and is subject to stringent ethics review . no project involving the use of human embryonic stem cells should be funded that does not obtain the necessary approvals from the member states . no activity should be funded that is forbidden in all member states . no activity should be funded in a member state where such activity is forbidden . ### stem cell therapies have shown their strong added value by leading to breakthroughs in disease treatment . therefore , the union should continue to support research in this area . the european commission does not explicitly solicit the use of human embryonic stem cells . the use of human stem cells , be they adult or embryonic if any , depends on the judgement of the scientists in view of the objectives they want to achieve and is subject to stringent ethics review . projects involving the use of human embryonic stem cells may be funded provided that they have been duly approved by the member states concerned . where allowed by national legislation , the creation and maintenance of public human embryonic stem cell banks should be considered .


### specific activities shall include : understanding the determinants of health , improving health promotion and disease prevention ; understanding disease and improving diagnosis ; developing effective screening programmes and improving the assessment of disease susceptibility ; improving surveillance and preparedness ; developing better preventive vaccines ; using in - silico medicine for improving disease management and prediction ; treating disease ; transferring knowledge to clinical practice and scalable innovation actions ; better use of health data ; active ageing , independent and assisted living ; individual empowerment for self - management of health ; promotion of integrated care ; improving scientific tools and methods to support policy making and regulatory needs ; and optimising the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare systems and reducing inequalities by evidence based decision making and dissemination of best practice , and innovative technologies and approaches . ### specific activities shall include : understanding the determinants of health , improving health promotion and disease prevention ; understanding the pathways of human disease , of toxicity , of biomarkers and modes of action and improving diagnosis ; developing effective screening programmes and improving the assessment of disease susceptibility ; improving surveillance and preparedness ; developing better preventive tools , including vaccines ; using in - silico medicine for improving disease management and prediction ; improving disease treatment with an emphasis on the development of stratified / personalised medicine and orphan medicinal products ; transferring knowledge stemming from basic research to clinical practice and scalable innovation actions in a more timely and efficient manner , by fostering high - quality translational research ; better use of health data ; promoting active ageing , independent and assisted living ; individual empowerment for self - management of health ; promotion of integrated care ; improving scientific tools and methods to support policy making and regulatory needs ; and optimising the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare systems , including by the development and wider implementation of e - health solutions , and reducing inequalities by evidence based decision making and dissemination of best practice , and innovative technologies and approaches .


### the integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 is expected to lead to around 15% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and the priority ‘ societal challenges’ going to smes . ### the integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 should lead to more than 15% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and the priority ‘ societal challenges’ going to smes .


### the implementation of horizon 2020 should respond to the evolving opportunities and needs from science and technology , industry , policies and society . as such , the agendas should be set in close liaison with stakeholders from all sectors concerned , and sufficient flexibility should be allowed for new developments . external advice should be sought on a continuous basis during horizon 2020 , also making use of relevant structures such as european technology platforms , joint programming initiatives and the european innovation partnerships . ### the implementation of horizon 2020 should respond to the evolving opportunities and needs from science and technology , industry , policies and society . the cross - and transdisciplinary nature of the societal challenges , as well as the need for cross - cutting linkages and interfaces within horizon 2020 , requires the setting up of dedicated steering boards . the boards should be composed of relevant stakeholders from academia , industry , end - users and civil society of the highest repute and appropriate expertise , ensuring a diversity of all sectors and research areas concerned . the boards should provide input and advice to the commission on the overall strategy for the societal challenge concerned , the establishment of its work programmes , and the areas and criteria for the calls for proposals .


### the commission shall report and disseminate the results of that monitoring . ### the commission shall annually report and disseminate the results of that monitoring , including to the parliament and the council .


### to stay at the forefront of global competition with a strong technological base and industrial capabilities , increased strategic investments in research , development , validation and piloting are required in information and communication technologies ; nanotechnologies ; advanced materials ; biotechnology ; advanced manufacturing and processing ; and space . ### to stay at the forefront of global competition with a strong technological base and industrial capabilities , increased strategic investments in research , development , validation and piloting are required in information and communication technologies ; nanotechnologies ; quantum optics ; advanced materials ; biotechnology ; advanced manufacturing and processing ; robotics ; and space .


### leadership in enabling and industrial technologies shall provide dedicated support for research , development and demonstration on ict , nanotechnology , advanced materials , biotechnology , advanced manufacturing and processing and space . emphasis will be placed on interactions and convergence across and between the different technologies . ### leadership in enabling and industrial technologies shall provide dedicated support for research , development and demonstration on ict , nanotechnology , advanced materials , eco - innovation , biotechnology , advanced manufacturing and processing and space . emphasis will be placed on interactions and convergence across and between the different technologies .


### all of these activities shall be undertaken in such a way as to provide support throughout the research and innovation cycle , strengthening the competitiveness of the european based industries and development of new market opportunities . ### all of these activities shall be undertaken in such a way as to provide support throughout the research and innovation cycle , strengthening the competitiveness of the european based industries and development of new market opportunities . emphasis will also be placed on engaging all health stakeholders – including patient and patient organisations– in order to develop a research and innovation agenda that actively involves citizens and reflects their needs and expectations .


### horizon 2020 shall ensure the effective promotion of gender equality and the gender dimension in research and innovation content . ### horizon 2020 shall ensure the effective promotion of equal opportunities for women and men in research and innovation content .


### clear financial commitments of the participating countries , including prior commitments to pool national and / or regional investments for transnational research and innovation ; ### clear financial commitments of the participating countries and / or regions , in cash or in - kind , including prior commitments to pool national and / or regional investments for transnational research and innovation ;


### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society and reinforcing public confidence in science , horizon 2020 should favour an informed engagement of citizens and civil society on research and innovation matters by promoting science education , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing responsible research and innovation agendas that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and by facilitating their participation in horizon 2020 activities . ### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society and re - establishing and deepening public confidence in science , horizon 2020 should favour an active participation of citizens and civil society on research and innovation matters by promoting participatory research , science education , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing responsible agendas for research and innovation and application of the results thereof that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and by facilitating their participation in horizon 2020 activities .


### the scale of impact on industrial competitiveness , sustainable growth and socio - economic issues ; ### the scale of impact on industrial competitiveness , sustainable growth and socio - economic issues , through the definition of common goals across horizon 2020 , clear and measurable societal and competitiveness objectives , including job and company creation , intellectual property and patent creation , educational / training targets , and accountability on reaching these objectives ;


### specific actions shall be undertaken within the specific objective ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ set out in point 1 of part ii of annex i and each of the specific objectives under the priority ‘ societal challenges’ set out in points 1 to 6 of part iii of annex i . these specific actions shall take the form of a dedicated sme instrument that is targeted at all types of smes with an innovation potential and shall be implemented in a consistent manner and tailored to the needs of smes as set out under the specific objective ‘ innovation in smes’ in point 3 . 3 . of part ii of annex i . ### specific actions for smes shall be undertaken within the specific objective ' leadership in enabling and industrial technologies ' set out in point 1 of part ii of annex i and each of the specific objectives under the priority ' societal challenges ' set out in points 1 to 6 of part iii of annex i . these specific actions shall take the form of , inter alia , a dedicated sme instrument that is targeted at all types of smes with an innovation potential and shall be implemented in a consistent manner and tailored to the needs of smes as set out under the specific objective ' innovation in smes ' in point 3 . 3 . of part ii of annex i .


### horizon 2020 has the general objective to build an economy based on knowledge and innovation across the whole union , while contributing to sustainable development . it will support the europe 2020 strategy and other union policies as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area . ### horizon 2020 has the general objective to build a world leading economy based on knowledge and innovation across the whole union , while contributing to sustainable development . it will support the europe 2020 strategy and other union policies as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area .


### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society and reinforcing public confidence in science , horizon 2020 should favour an informed engagement of citizens and civil society on research and innovation matters by promoting science education , by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing responsible research and innovation agendas that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and by facilitating their participation in horizon 2020 activities . ### with the aim of deepening the relationship between science and society , horizon 2020 should favour responsible research and innovation through the active participation of the societal actors in the research and innovation process , notably by ensuring the uptake of the gender dimension ; by promoting science education , by guaranteeing the respect of ethical legislation and promoting the emergence of an adherence to the highest ethical standards worldwide ; by increasing the accessibility and re - use of the results of publicly funded research , in particular scientific publications and data ; by making scientific knowledge more accessible , by developing a governance framework that meet citizens ' and civil society ' s concerns and expectations and facilitates their participation in horizon 2020 activities .


### horizon 2020 shall contribute to building an economy based on knowledge and innovation across the whole union by leveraging sufficient additional research , development and innovation funding . thereby , it shall support the implementation of the europe 2020 strategy and other union policies , as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area . the relevant performance indicators are set out in the introduction of annex i . ### horizon 2020 shall contribute to economic growth by building a resource efficient and low carbon economy based on knowledge , sustainability and innovation across the whole union by leveraging sufficient additional research , development and innovation funding . thereby , it shall support the implementation of the europe 2020 strategy and its innovation union and resource - efficient europe flagship initiatives and other union policies , as well as the achievement and functioning of the european research area . the relevant performance indicators are set out in the introduction of annex i .


### participation in union research and innovation strengthens the r&d and technology capability of smes , increases their capacity to generate , absorb and use new knowledge , enhances the economic exploitation of new solutions , boosts innovation in products , services and business models , promotes business activities in larger markets and internationalises the knowledge networks of smes . smes that have a good innovation management in place , thereby often relying on external expertise and skills , outperform others . ### participation in union research and innovation strengthens the r&d and technology capability of smes , increases their capacity to generate , absorb and use new knowledge , enhances the economic exploitation of new solutions , boosts innovation in products , services and business models , promotes business activities in larger markets and internationalises the knowledge networks of smes . smes that have a good innovation management in place , thereby often relying on external expertise and skills , outperform others . smes also have a key role to play as recipients and destinees of technology and knowledge transfer processes , contributing to the market transfer of innovations stemming from the research carried out in universities , public research bodies and research performing smes .


### a considerably increased exploitation of data from european satellites can be achieved if a concerted effort is made to coordinate and organise the processing , validation and standardisation of space data . innovations in data handling and dissemination can also ensure a higher return on investment of space infrastructure , and contribute to tackling societal challenges , in particular if coordinated in a global effort such as through global earth observation system of systems , the european satellite navigation programme galileo or ipcc for climate change issues . ### a considerably increased exploitation of data from european satellites can be achieved if a concerted effort is made to coordinate and organise the processing , validation and standardisation of space data . innovations in data handling and dissemination can also ensure a higher return on investment of space infrastructure , and contribute to tackling societal challenges , in particular if coordinated in a global effort such as through the global earth observation system of systems and europe ' s contribution , the european satellite navigation programme galileo or ipcc for climate change issues .


### linkages and interfaces shall be implemented across and within the priorities of horizon 2020 . particular attention shall be paid in this respect to the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies , to bridging from discovery to market application , to cross - disciplinary research and innovation , to social and economic sciences and humanities , to fostering the functioning and achievement of the era , to cooperation with third countries , to responsible research and innovation including gender , and to enhancing the attractiveness of the research profession and to facilitating cross - border and cross - sector mobility of researchers . ### linkages and interfaces shall be implemented across and within the priorities of horizon 2020 . particular attention shall be paid in this respect to the development and application of key enabling and industrial technologies , to bridging from discovery to market application , to cross - disciplinary research and innovation , to social and economic sciences and humanities , to a systemic approach of the spatial , urban and territorial issues , to climate change , healthy seas and oceans and sustainable development , to fostering the functioning and achievement of the era , to the development of research into european legal systems , to cooperation with third countries , to ethical responsible research and innovation including the respect of equal opportunities between men and women in research , to more inclusive governance of research , to participatory research , to enhancing the attractiveness of the research profession for both sexes and to facilitating cross - border and cross - sector mobility of researchers .


### the integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 is expected to lead to around 15% of the total combined budget for the specific objective on ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and the priority ‘ societal challenges’ going to smes . ### the integrated approach set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 is expected to lead to around 30% of the total budget of the specific objective on ‘ leadership in enabling and industrial technologies’ and 15% of the budget of the priority ‘ societal challenges’ going to smes .


### the approach shall include both agenda - driven activities and more open areas to promote innovative projects and breakthrough solutions . emphasis shall be on r&d , large - scale pilots and demonstration activities , test beds and living labs , prototyping and product validation in pilot lines . activities shall be designed to boost industrial competitiveness by stimulating industry , and in particular smes , to make more research and innovation investment . ### the approach shall include both agenda - driven activities and more open areas to promote innovative projects and breakthrough solutions . emphasis shall be on r&d , large - scale pilots and demonstration activities , test beds and living labs , prototyping and product validation in pilot lines . activities shall be designed to boost industrial competitiveness by stimulating industry , and in particular smes , to make more research and innovation investment . substantial focus will be given to small and medium scale projects .


### reducing energy consumption and co2 emissions by the development and deployment of sustainable construction technologies . ### reducing energy consumption and co2 emissions by the research , development and deployment of sustainable construction technologies addressing the whole value chain and fostering cross - sectorial and multidisciplinary innovations while enabling new business models and value propositions to citizens .


### the focus of activities shall be to reduce resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and improve vehicle efficiency , to accelerate the development and deployment of a new generation of electric and other low or zero emission vehicles , including through breakthroughs in engines , batteries and infrastructure ; to explore and exploit the potential of alternative fuels and innovative and more efficient propulsion systems , including fuel infrastructure ; to optimise the use of infrastructures , by means of intelligent transport systems and smart equipment ; and to increase the use of demand management and public and non - motorised transport , particularly in urban areas . ### the focus of activities shall , as a first step , be to reduce resource consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and improve the energy efficiency of all kinds of vehicles , to accelerate the development and deployment of a new generation of low or zero emission vehicles and the accompanying infrastructure , including through breakthroughs in engines , batteries and infrastructure and the use of renewables in rail , water and air transport . it is also essential to have a waste management policy linked to these innovations . moreover , all innovation aimed at achieving low or zero emissions in all modes of transport should be encouraged , including developing and harnessing the huge potential of alternative and sustainable fuels , as well as developing innovative and more efficient propulsion systems , work on optimising fuel systems , vehicle weights and aerodynamics , and development and infrastructure , and optimising the use of infrastructures by using intelligent transport systems and smart equipment . it is important to increase the use of public and non - motorised transport and intermodal mobility chains , particularly in urban areas .


### the aim is the promotion of low carbon , resource efficient , sustainable and competitive european bio - based industries . the activities shall focus on fostering the bio - economy by transforming conventional industrial processes and products into bio - based resource and energy efficient ones , the development of integrated biorefineries , utilising biomass from primary production , biowaste and bio - based industry by - products , and opening new markets through supporting standardisation , regulatory and demonstration / field trial activities and others , while taking into account the implication of the bio - economy on land use and land use changes . ### the aim is the promotion of low carbon , more resource efficient , sustainable and competitive european bio - based industries , while making bio - waste an asset used at its full potential . it is vital to create a closed circuit between urban and rural areas . the activities shall focus on fostering the bio - economy by transforming conventional industrial processes and products into bio - based resource and energy efficient ones , the development of integrated second and third generation biorefineries , producing and utilising biomass and other residues from primary agricultural and forestry production , biowaste and bio - based industry by - products , and through efficient transformation of bio - waste in urban areas into agricultural inputs . this will foster new markets and create potential new revenue streams for primary producers through supporting standardisation , certification schemes , regulatory and demonstration / field trial activities and others , while taking into account the implication of the bio - economy on land use and land use changes .


### horizon 2020 should contribute to the attractiveness of the research profession in the union . adequate attention should be paid to the european charter for researchers and code of conduct for the recruitment of researchers , together with other relevant reference frameworks defined in the context of the european research area , while respecting their voluntary nature . ### horizon 2020 should contribute to the attractiveness of the research profession in the union and its professional and social recognition on a union - wide scale . full attention should be paid to the european charter for researchers and code of conduct for the recruitment of researchers , together with other relevant reference frameworks defined in the context of the european research area , while respecting their voluntary nature in order to tackle the continuing phenomenon of brain drain and convert it into a brain gain .


### europe now needs to secure and build on its position in the global market by promoting wide scale cooperation in and across many different value chains and between different industrial sectors to realise the process scale - up of these technologies into viable commercial products . the issues of risk assessment and management as well as responsible governance are emerging as determining factors of future impact of nanotechnologies on society and the economy . ### europe now needs to secure and build on its position in the global market by promoting wide scale cooperation in and across many different value chains and between different industrial sectors to realise the process scale - up of these technologies into viable commercial products . the issues of risk assessment and management as well as responsible governance are emerging as determining factors of future impact of nanotechnologies on society and the economy , including security aspects .


### in the context of the knowledge triangle of research , education and innovation , the knowledge and innovation communities under the european institute of innovation and technology should strongly contribute to addressing the objectives of horizon 2020 , including the societal challenges , notably by integrating research , education and innovation . in order to ensure complementarities across horizon 2020 and the adequate absorption of funds , the financial contribution to the european institute of innovation and technology should be made in two allocations , with the second subject to a review . ### in the context of the knowledge triangle of research , education and innovation , the knowledge and innovation communities under the european institute of innovation and technology should strongly contribute to addressing the objectives of horizon 2020 , including the societal challenges , notably by integrating research , education and innovation . the eit is the single instrument within the horizon 2020 framework that has a strong emphasis on the educational dimension of the knowledge triangle , and promises to tackle the ' european paradox ' through entrepreneurial education that will lead to the creation of innovative , knowledge - based start - ups and spin - offs . in order to ensure complementarities across horizon 2020 and the adequate absorption of funds , the financial contribution to the european institute of innovation and technology should be made in two allocations , with the second subject to a review , based on the overall eit and individual kics ' performance .


### the need for a new approach to control and risk management in union research funding was recognised by the european council of 4 february 2011 , asking for a new balance between trust and control and between risk - taking and risk avoidance . the european parliament , in its resolution of 11 november 2010 on simplifying the implementation of the research framework programmes , called for a pragmatic shift towards administrative and financial simplification and states that the management of european research funding should be more trust - based and risk - tolerant towards participants . the interim evaluation report of the seventh framework programme for research concludes that a more radical approach is needed to attain a quantum leap in simplification , and that the risk - trust balance needs to be redressed . ### the need for a new approach to develop an evidence - based risk management strategy as part of the union ' s research funding strategy was recognised by the european council of 4 february 2011 . at this time the council asked for a new balance between trust and control and between risk - taking and risk avoidance . the european parliament , in its resolution of 11 november 2010 on simplifying the implementation of the research framework programmes , called for a pragmatic shift towards administrative and financial simplification and states that the management of european research funding should be more trust - based and risk - tolerant towards researchers . the interim evaluation report of the seventh framework programme for research concludes that a more radical approach is needed to attain a quantum leap toward simplified procedures that demonstrate the union ' s trust in researchers and encourage them to take the risks needed for accelerated progress in science and technology .