REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Annual Report on Research and Technological Development Activities of the European Union and Monitoring of Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 in 2021
Date: 2022-08-05
Institutions: Directorate-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission
Subjects: EAEC, EU programme, EU research policy, European Institute of Innovation and Technology, Framework Programme for Research and Development, Joint Research Centre, activity report, innovation, research and development, scientific cooperation

EN 

  EN 

   EUROPEAN COMMISSION  Brussels, 5.8.2022  COM(2022) 389 final  REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND THE COUNCIL Annual Report on Research and Technological Development Activities of the European Union and Monitoring of Horizon Europe and Horizon 2020 in 2021  
 
 
1. 

BACKGROUND 

This report, drafted in  accordance  with Article 190 of the Treaty on the Functioning of 
the  European  Union  and  Article  7  of  the  Regulation    (EU)  2021/695  of  the  European 
Parliament and the Council establishing Euratom Treaty, in conjunction with Article 50 
of the Horizon Europe Framework Programme for Research and Innovation and Article 
12 of the Council Regulation (Euratom) 2021/765 establishing the Research and Training 
Programme  of  the  European  Atomic  Energy  Community,  provides  a  non-exhaustive 
overview  of  the  EU’s  key  research  and  innovation  (R&I)  activities  in  2021  and  the 
monitoring of Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020 and the Euratom Programme. 

2. 

POLITICAL CONTEXT AND POLICY DEVELOPMENTS 

The  EU’s  R&I  activities  in  2021  were  again  focused  on  tackling  the  COVID-19-
pandemic  and  mitigating  its  effects  on  European  society  and  economy.  To  boost  the 
post-pandemic recovery in the EU, the Recovery and Resilience Facility was launched 
(making EUR 800 billion available in loans and grants). 

In 2021, Horizon Europe – the EU’s flagship programme for R&I in the current 2021-
2027  Multiannual  Financial  Framework  –  was  launched  with  a  budget  of  EUR 95.5 
billion  and  an  additional  EUR 5.4  billion  contributed  by  the  Recovery  and  Resilience 
Facility. 

2.1. 

COVID-19 pandemic 

The Commission continued to invest in R&I for vaccines and treatments, especially for 
the  emergence  of  new  variants.  By  the  end  of  the  previous  R&I  programme  Horizon 
2020,  EUR 872.18  million  had  been  mobilised  to  fund  coronavirus-related  research, 
including diagnostics, treatments, vaccines, epidemiology, preparedness and response to 
outbreaks, socioeconomics, mental health, production and digital technologies, as well as 
the  infrastructure  and  data  resources  that  enable  this  research.  These  efforts  were 
reflected in several activities that are listed below: 

  The  adoption  of  the  HERA  package,  which  consists  of  the  communication 
Introducing the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA) 
(September 2021), the Commission Decision on the establishment of HERA and 
the proposal  for a Council Regulation on a framework of measures for ensuring 
the  supply  of  crisis-relevant  medical  countermeasures  in  the  event  of  a  public 
health emergency at Union level. Over the next 6 years, EUR 1.7 billion will be 
allocated under Horizon Europe to contribute to achieving HERA’s objectives. 

  The  communication  HERA  Incubator:  Anticipating  together  the  threat  of 
COVID-19 variants (February 2021) aims to address the increased spread of new 
SARS-CoV-2 variants. 

  The  EU  strategy  on  COVID-19  therapeutics  (May 2021)  clarified  that  the 
investment under Horizon Europe will support vaccine and therapeutic trials. 

 
 
 
  Drawing  the  early  lessons  from  the  COVID-19  pandemic  (June 2021)  lists  10 
lessons  learnt,  including  that  ‘a  pan-European  approach  is  essential  to  make 
clinical research faster, broader and more effective’. 

  On  17 December 2021,  a  COVID-19  ‘research  to  policy  action’  dialogue  was 

organised to facilitate research on the Omicron variant. 

  The European COVID-19 data platform has continued to grow, currently holding 
close to 10 million records of different data types, including over 4.5 million viral 
genomes and more than 4.3 million raw viral sequences. 

  The  EU  COVID-19  manifesto  to  maximise  uptake  of  research  results  has  been 

extended. 

2.2. 

Green and digital transition 

With  the  entry  into  force  of  the  European  Climate  Law  (June 2021),  the  targets  of  net 
zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and reducing emissions by at least 55% by 2030, 
compared  to  1990  levels,  became  legally  binding  in  the  EU.  In  July  2021,  the 
Commission adopted the Fit for 55 package to make the EU's climate, energy, land use, 
transport and taxation policies fit for reaching the targets - including the target of using 
35%  of  research  and  innovation  funding  under  Horizon  Europe  for  green  investments. 
Related to energy the main objectives of the Fit for 55 package were to: 

  Accelerate energy efficiency efforts across all sectors; 

  Make it mandatory to renovate buildings and make new buildings zero-emission 

by 2030; 

  Boost  the  deployment  of  renewable  energy  so  that  at  least  40%  of  energy 

consumption is covered by renewables by 2030. 

The Sixth report on the state of the Energy Union was accompanied by a report on the 
competitiveness  of  clean  energy  technologies,  which  shows  the  EU  remains  at  the 
forefront of clean energy research. 

The implementation of the EU’s sustainable and smart mobility strategy included several 
legislative  proposals  in  2021  as  part  of  the  “Fit  for  55  package”  (e.g.  the  Alternative 
Fuels  Infrastructure  Regulation  and  the  ReFuelEU  aviation  and  FuelEU  maritime 
initiatives) and the  efficient  and  green  mobility package in  December  (e.g. revisions of 
the  TEN-T  Regulation  and  the  ITS  Directive,  as  well  as  a  new  EU  urban  mobility 
framework). 

The  communication  Sustainable  Carbon  Cycles  (December 2021)  promoted  R&I  to 
increase removals and storage of carbon from the atmosphere. 

To prepare for the unavoidable impact of climate change and become a climate-resilient 
society  by  2050,  the  EU  strategy  on  adaptation  to  climate  change  was  adopted 
(February 2021), underlining the role of science. 

2 

 
 
In 2021, for the first time since the launch of the Emissions Trading System – Innovation 
Fund, the EU is  investing over  EUR 1.1 billion in seven innovative projects,  aiming to 
bring  breakthrough  technologies  to  the  market  for  (i)  energy-intensive  industries;  (ii) 
hydrogen; (iii) carbon capture, use and storage; and (iv) renewable energy. 

The environmental dimension of the European Green Deal was also supported in 2021 by 
the adoption of a series of initiatives in the framework of the Biodiversity strategy (such 
as  the  Forest  strategy  and  the  Soil  strategy),  the  Zero  Pollution  Action  Plan  and  the 
Circular Economy  Action Plan. The  research proposed under Horizon Europe topics in 
2021 supported these policy initiatives. 

The agreement on the reform of the common agricultural policy was adopted (December 
2021) as well as an organic action plan, which gives R&I a strong role to play. R&I will 
also  be important  for  the development  of carbon farming following the  communication 
on sustainable carbon cycles. 

The Commission adopted a proposal  for a  Council Recommendation on ensuring a fair 
transition  towards  climate  neutrality,  adopted  by  Council  on  16  June  2022,  in  which 
Member  States  commit  to  put  in  place  comprehensive  policy  packages,  in  line  with 
national circumstances, to ensure the green transition is fair and inclusive. 

The Communication on Sustainable Blue Economy in the EU (May 2021) focuses on a 
Green  Recovery  for  the  Blue  Economy  –  Transforming  the  EU's  Blue  Economy  for  a 
Sustainable Future, underlining the role of R&I in driving this transformation. 

The  Marie  Skłodowska-Curie  Actions  Green  Charter  promotes 
the  sustainable 
implementation of research activities. It is a code of good practice for any individuals and 
institutions who benefit from funding. 

The  Commission  proposed  a  path  to  the  Digital  Decade.  This  sets  out  concrete  digital 
targets  that  the  EU  is  expected  to  achieve  by  2030.  The  proposal  also  sets  up  a 
cooperation  cycle  between  the  Commission  and  Member  States  that  provides  a 
framework  for  developing  multi-country  projects  that  no  single  Member  State  could 
develop alone (e.g. high-performance computing, secure quantum communication). 

2.3. 

Industry 

The updated industrial strategy (May 2021) confirms R&I as a driver to move European 
industry forward in the green and digital transitions. A new vision for a green, resilient 
and human-centric industry was developed in the ‘Industry 5.0’ concept (January 2021). 
The Commission published the 2020 Transitions Performance Index, which monitors the 
transition  towards  a  circular  and  regenerative  EU  industry,  and  the  2021  EU  Industrial 
R&D Investment Scoreboard, which lists the top 2 500 private R&D investors. 

In 2021, an integrated EU space programme was launched. It brings together operational 
activities  for  satellite  navigation,  Earth  observation,  and  the  new  EU  governmental 
satellite  communications  and  space  situational  awareness  components,  including  space 
surveillance and tracking of satellites and space debris. 

3 

 
 
 
2.4. 

Security 

The  Commission  published  a  staff  working  document  Enhancing  security  through 
research and innovation, which gives examples of how law enforcement authorities and 
border guards benefit from EU security research. The document describes how to take up 
research  results  into  operational  tools,  including  the  new  Community  for  European 
Research and Innovation for Security, which brings together all stakeholders. 

2.5. 

Partnership with Member States 

In 2021, there was major progress in the renewed European Research Area (ERA) with 
the Council Recommendation for a Pact for research and innovation and the ERA policy 
agenda.  It  sets  out  20  measures  for  2022-2024,  including  sharing  open  knowledge  and 
promoting attractive scientific careers. 

Knowledge valorisation is key for the uptake of R&I results in society and the economy. 
The  Commission  prepared  the  draft  Council  recommendation  on  the  European  guiding 
principles for knowledge valorisation and organised the first EU Knowledge Valorisation 
Week (April 2021). 

The European semester cycle of economic policy coordination was temporarily replaced 
by  the  national  recovery  and  resilience  plans.  The  Commission  received  26  plans  and 
endorsed  22  of  them  –  all  the  plans  include  solid  proposals  for  R&I  investment  and 
reforms. 

With the Ljubljana declaration on gender equality in R&I, the Commission, 25 Member 
States and 12 associated countries strengthened their efforts towards fair, open, inclusive 
and gender-equal research systems. 

2.6. 

International aspects 

The  communication  on  the  Global  Approach  to  Research  and  Innovation  reaffirms  the 
EU’s  commitment  to  preserve  openness  in  international  R&I  cooperation,  while 
promoting  reciprocity  underpinned  by  fundamental  values  with  an  emphasis  on 
protecting the EU’s open strategic autonomy. 

On 6 October 2021, the EU and Western Balkans leaders launched the Western Balkans 
agenda on innovation, research, education, culture, youth and sport at the Brdo Summit.  

Six post-2020 priorities  for R&I  were incorporated in  the Eastern Partnership’s  revised 
architecture in 2021 to boost the innovation capacities of eastern partners. 

A new R&I cooperation agenda was developed with the Mediterranean. Furthermore, the 
work on an EU-China joint roadmap for future science and technology cooperation has 
progressed. R&I also featured prominently in the EU-US Summit held in Brussels on 5 
June 2021. The successful R&I cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean was 
noted by the Council in the endorsement of the  EU-Community of Latin American and 
Caribbean States (CELAC) strategic roadmap. 

4 

 
 
 
As  emphasised  in  the  2021  Trade  Policy  Review,  innovation  is  key  for  the  EU’s  long-
term  competitiveness  and  its  open  strategic  autonomy,  strengthening  its  regulatory 
impact and position in key sectors, including digital trade. 

2.7. 

Non-nuclear  direct  actions  implemented  by  the  Joint  Research  Centre  of 
the Commission (JRC) 

The  JRC  supported  numerous  Commission  initiatives  with  scientific  evidence  and 
analyses. For example, it helped fight COVID-19 by monitoring the performance of the 
most used testing methods and developing reference materials; compiling information on 
COVID-19 test devices and making it publicly available; contributing to the creation of a 
common  list  of  COVID-19  rapid  antigen  tests  and  providing  daily  updates  for  safe 
travelling.  

3. 

IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING OF HORIZON EUROPE, HORIZON 2020 & 
EURATOM 

3.1. 

Horizon Europe in 2021 – Highlights & Novelties 

In  early  2021,  the  legal  acts  of  the  new  impact-driven  framework  programme  Horizon 
Europe  and  its  strategic  plan  2021-2024  were  adopted.  The  Commission  adopted  the 
main  2021-2022  work  programme  in  early  2021  (dedicated  to  COVID-19)  and  the  full 
version in June. There were then  further amendments  in  October (Article 22(5)) and in 
December  (amendment  on  Missions).  The  respective  configurations  of  the  programme 
committee were set up and the first calls were launched. To prepare for the main 2023-
2024  work  programme,  draft  orientation  papers  were  co-created  with  all  services 
concerned. 

In  2021,  the  Commission  promoted  Horizon  Europe  through  communication  activities 
for citizens and stakeholders. For example, specific webinars at the European R&I Days 
2021 were organised (with 21 000 participants), and 14 info sessions were held to explain 
the funding instruments (235 000 views). 

New R&I instruments in Horizon Europe include the European  Innovation Council, the 
next  generation  of  European  Partnerships,  and  Missions.  The  five  Missions  were 
launched in September 2021 as an innovative approach to achieve bold and measurable 
goals  by  2030.  The  Commission  promoted  Missions  through  communication  activities, 
such  as  a  video  featuring  eight  Commissioners  (41  000  views),  factsheets  and  social 
media campaigns. 

In  2021,  the  first  European  Innovation  Council  (EIC)  work  programme  made  over 
EUR 1.5 billion available through funding opportunities, including the strands described 
below: 

  EIC  Accelerator  (around  EUR 1  billion)  finances  start-ups  and  small  and 
medium-sized  companies  (SMEs)  to  develop  and  scale  up  high  impact 
innovations with the potential to create new markets or disrupt existing ones. 

5 

 
 
 
  EIC Pathfinder (EUR 300 million) takes on visionary research with the potential 

to lead to technology breakthroughs. 

  EIC  Transition  (around  EUR 100  million)  aims  to  turn  research  results  into 

innovation opportunities. 

The first two work programmes of the European Research Council were adopted, making 
EUR 1.9 billion and EUR 2.4 billion available respectively to help top researchers pursue 
frontier research. 

At  the  Climate  Change  Conference  in  Glasgow,  the  EU  catalyst  partnership  was 
officially  launched.  This  partnership  will  mobilise  up  to  EUR 820  million  (2022-2026; 
EUR 200 million from Horizon Europe). Investment will be directed towards EU-based 
projects  with  high  potential  for  green  hydrogen,  sustainable  aviation  fuels,  direct  air 
capture, and long-duration energy storage. 

In  the  EU  space  programme,  the  space  R&I  part  of  Horizon  Europe  becomes  more 
important  for  future-proofing  the  EU’s  strategic  investment  in  space.  This  includes  the 
evolution  of  the  space  programme  components,  strategic  autonomy  in  satellite 
technologies,  access  to  space,  and  market  take-up  of  space-enabled  services  and 
applications. 

Under  Horizon  Europe,  the  Marie  Skłodowska-Curie  Actions  put  more  emphasis  on 
inter-sectoral  collaboration,  effective  supervision  and  career  guidance.  The  programme 
remained  a  best  practice  of  support  to  female  researchers  (who  make  up  41.6%  of  all 
research  fellows).  The  programme  celebrated  its  25th  anniversary  in  2021  and  has 
supported over 145 000 researchers since 1996. 

The  legal  basis  of  the  European  Institute  of  Innovation  and  Technology  (EIT)  was 
consolidated.  The  EIT’s  new  strategic  innovation  agenda  for  2021-2027  sets  out  the 
objectives, key actions, mode of operation, expected results and impact. In 2021: 

  The EIT signed grant agreements with eight existing knowledge and innovation 

communities (KICs) worth EUR 357.5 million; 

 

 

1 006 people graduated from EIT-labelled master and doctoral programmes; 

32  start-ups  were  created  by  students  on  EIT  programmes,  and  101  start-ups 
resulted from EIT innovation projects; 

 

1 378 start-ups received support from KICs; 

  The innovation capacity building for higher education initiative was launched. 

The  2021-2022  work  programme  includes  210  topics  that  are  specifically  targeted  at 
international  cooperation  (around  20%  of  all  topics).  These  include  the  ambitious 
EUR 350 million  Africa initiative with  calls for  collaborative research in  public  health, 
the green transition, and innovation and technology. 

By end 2021, negotiations for association with 18 non-EU countries were conducted, 9 
of  which  have  already  been  concluded  and  producing  legal  effects.  The  assessment  of 
candidate  associated  countries  to  participate in calls  covered  under  Article 22(5) of the 

6 

 
 
Horizon Europe Regulation was carried out in 2021. This work will inform on the use of 
limitations in Horizon Europe work programmes over the coming years. 

Open science has become Horizon Europe’s way of working. With the launch of the first 
calls,  open  science  practices  are  now  considered  when  evaluating  project  proposals  (as 
part of the ‘excellence’ and ‘quality and efficiency of implementation’ criteria). 

Horizon  Europe  has  strengthened  gender  equality  rules,  including  a  new  eligibility 
criterion  enforced  as  of  2022.  All  public  bodies,  research  organisations  and  higher 
education bodies in Member States or associated countries must have a gender equality 
plan in place to be eligible for funding. 

3.2.  Monitoring data analysis – Calls launched1 

In  2021,  more  than  a  hundred  calls  for  proposals  and  other  actions  in  the  2021-2022 
Horizon Europe work programme were launched: 

  Pillar  1  –  Excellent  science  had  15  calls  for  proposals  and  7  calls  for  other 
ideas 

research  and  breakthrough  scientific 

frontier 

actions  supporting 
(EUR 3 billion). 

  Pillar 2 - Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness had 42 
calls  for  proposals  (EUR 5.3  billion)  and  26  calls  for  other  actions 
(EUR 328 million) in six different clusters2. 

  Pillar  3  –  Innovative Europe  had  14  calls  for  proposals  and  8  calls  for other 
actions  (EUR 1.6  billion),  which  aim  to  support the  development  of  disruptive 
innovations. 

  Widening participation and strengthening the ERA had 5 calls for proposals 

and 4 calls for other actions (EUR 266.5 million). 

European Partnerships 

The Commission launched 23 new European Partnerships: 

  Eleven  co-programmed  European  Partnerships:  17  calls  for  proposals 
(EUR 1.6 billion)  related  to  co-programmed  partnerships  were  launched, 
primarily in the digital (cluster 4) and climate (cluster 5) domains, but also from 
the research infrastructures work programme. 

  Eleven  institutionalised  European  Partnerships:  Out  of  the  institutionalised 
European  partnerships,  the  High  Performance  Computing  and  Key  Digital 
Technologies 
for  proposals 
(EUR 215 million). 

Joint  Undertaking 

four  calls 

launched 

1 

2 

Source: Common Research Data Warehouse (CORDA) data and Call Passport System (CPS) policy monitoring metadata. 
Cut-off date: December 2021, extraction date: January 2022. 
Cluster  CL  1:  Health,  CL  2:  Culture,  creativity  and  inclusive  society,  CL3:  Civil  security  for  society,  CL  4:  Digital, 
industry  and  space,  CL  5:  Climate,  energy  and  mobility,  CL  6:  Food,  bioeconomy,  natural  resources,  agriculture  and 
environment. 

7 

 
 
                                                 
  One co-funded European Partnership: The European Biodiversity Partnership 
has launched one call for proposals: 46 funding organisations from 34 countries 
have reserved a total amount of over EUR 40 million. 

Missions 

For the five Horizon Europe Missions, 13 calls for proposals (around EUR 541 million) 
were launched. 

Expected contribution to the Commission’s priorities 

For now, Horizon Europe’s contribution to this Commission’s 2019-2024 priorities can 
only be estimated based on data collected for calls3: 

 

 

33  calls  aimed  at  contributing  to  the  European  Green  Deal  (around  EUR 4 
billion across all clusters4); 

29  calls  aimed  at  contributing  to  a  Europe  fit  for  the  digital  age  (around 
EUR 2.2 billion5). 

In 2021, the Commission also  mobilised EUR 123 million for research on coronavirus 
variants as announced in April and in line with the HERA incubator. 

Success rates6 

By end 2021, 64 of the over 100 calls for proposals had been closed and fully evaluated. 
The  calls  generated  7 460  eligible  proposals  that  requested  a  total  EU  contribution  of 
EUR 18.8  billion.  Although  66%  of  the  eligible  proposals  were  above  the  quality 
threshold,  only  1 290  could  be  selected,  bringing  the  overall  success  rate  of  eligible 
proposals to 17.3% for the first year of the programme. 

By end 2021, 19 grant agreements had already been signed for a total EU contribution of 
EUR 245.6 million shared across different thematic areas (see Table 1). The other grants 
were still under preparation. 

3 

4 

5 
6 

The  following  analysis  refers  to  top-down  calls  in  clusters  for  which  sufficient  information  on  topics  are  available.  It 
excludes  bottom-up  calls  (e.g.  EIC,  ERC,  MSCA  calls)  and  calls  for  European  Innovation  Ecosystems,  Research 
infrastructures, Missions and Widening and ERA. The analysis refers to the cumulative budget, i.e. the full budget of the 
topics is considered even though topics might contribute to more than one policy priority. 
CL 5 (9 calls, EUR 1.4 billion, 34.5% of total cumulative budget), followed by CL 4 (6 calls, EUR 1 billion, 26.2%), CL 6 
(8 calls, EUR 976 million, 24.3%) and CL 1 (5 calls, EUR 545 million, 13.5%). 
CL 4 (7 calls, EUR 978.4 million, 44.2% of total cumulative budget), followed by CL 5 (7 calls, EUR 643 million, 29%). 
Source of data: CORDA, cut-off date: December 2021, extraction date: January 2022. 

8 

 
 
 
                                                 
 
Thematic area 

European Research Council (ERC) 

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) 

Research infrastructures 

Health 

Culture, creativity and inclusive society 

Climate, energy and mobility 

EU contribution 
(EUR) 

Average grant size 
(EUR) 

No. of grants 
signed 

517 828.75 

150 000.00 

400 000.00 

517 828.75 

150 000.00 

200 000.00 

88 527 007.06 

9 836 334.118 

703 796.75 

250 000.00 

351 898.38 

250 000.00 

1 

1 

2 

9 

2 

1 

1 

2 

19 

Widening participation and spreading excellence 

153 000 000.00 

153 000 000.00 

Reforming and enhancing the European R&I system 

2 100 000.00 

1 050 000.00 

Table 1: Grant agreements signed by thematic area 

245 648 632.56 

The  first  grants  signed  involve  120  participants  from  28  different  countries.  Excluding 
the specific co-funded action COST (EUR 153 million), 13.7% of the EU funding will go 
to 10 participants from  SMEs and 8.5% will go to non-EU countries. Higher education 
(37%) and research organisations (24%) have the biggest share of participants. 

3.3. 

Horizon 2020 in 20217 

By  end  2021,  955  Horizon  2020  call  deadlines  had  passed,  and  283 065  eligible 
proposals had been submitted, requesting a total EU contribution of  EUR 473.2 billion. 
Of these proposals, 33 798 were selected for funding, bringing the overall success rate of 
eligible proposals in 7 years to 11.9%. In 2021, 3 160 grant agreements were signed for a 
total  of  EUR  6.1  billion  bringing  the  total  EU  budget  allocation  for  2014-2021  to 
EUR 68.2 billion, from which the Excellent Science pillar had the biggest share (36.7%) 
followed by the Societal challenges (38.5%) and Industrial leadership (20.2%) pillars. 

Among  the  distinct  41 200  beneficiaries,  higher  education  organisations  remain  the 
largest  group  of  recipients  (39.2%  of  all  recipients),  followed  by  the  private  sector 
(28.2%),  while  16.5%  of  Horizon  2020  funding  goes  to  SMEs.  So  far,  EU-funded 
projects  under  Horizon  2020  have  resulted  in  more  than  151 000  peer-reviewed 
publications above 2 600 patents applications and 1 168 patent awards. 

7 

Source:  Public  Horizon  Dashboard,  R&I  proposals  dashboard  and  key  performance  indicators.  Cut-off  date:  December 
2021, Extraction date: January 2022. 

9 

 
 
 
 
                                                 
 
 
3.4. 

Dissemination and exploitation 

Different activities supported the dissemination and exploitation of R&I project results. 

  New features to characterise results were added to the Horizon Results platform 
and  500  new  key  exploitable  results  from  the  framework  programmes  were 
uploaded by beneficiaries. 

  The  Horizon  Results  Booster  provided  targeted  dissemination  and  exploitation 

services to beneficiaries. 

  CORDIS disseminated the results from the EU funded R&I projects. It reached 
professionals in the field to foster open science, created innovative products and 
services  and  stimulated  growth  across  Europe.  It  further  produced  a  range  of 
topical multilingual editorial products.  

  The  new  H2020-Interreg  synergies  mapping  tool  integrates  data  from  projects 
funded under Horizon 2020 and the 4th Interreg Central Europe call. This helps 
make  geographical  and  thematic  matches,  pointing  to  potential  synergies  at 
regional level.  

  New  dashboards  for  the  Horizon  Dashboard  were  developed,  providing  data 

across several framework programmes. 

  Monthly releases of Horizon 2020 data were made available to Member  States 
and associated countries (with Horizon Europe data made available from August 
2021). 

  The  European  data  for  research  and  innovation  policy  initiative  went  ahead, 

focusing on national funding micro-data. 

  Under  the  new  Horizon  Europe  dissemination  and  exploitation  strategy,  the 

2021-2022 dissemination and exploitation action plan was adopted. 

  The  Innovation  Radar,  which  identifies  EU-funded  R&I  projects  with  high 

potential, was expanded to the whole framework programme in 2021. 

Examples  of  specific  activities  to  support  the  dissemination  and  exploitation  of  results 
from the Framework Programmes in thematic areas are: 

  The  Blue  Invest  initiative  provided  assistance  and  access  to  investment  for 
several  maritime  start-ups  and  SMEs,  many  of  which  had  developed  services 
and products in previous framework programmes. 

  The  promotion  of  complementary  sources  of  EU  funding  under  the  Internal 
Security  Fund,  the  Border  Management  and  Visa  Instrument  and  the  Customs 
Control Equipment Instrument for taking up security research results. 

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3.5. 

In-depth analysis: Horizon Europe Monitoring flashes and other studies 

Contribution of EU R&I funding to COVID-19 related research 

This  analysis  showed  that  EU  R&I  funding  has  contributed  to  about  3 000  research 
papers  on  COVID-19.  These  papers  come  from  almost  all  parts  of  the  framework 
programmes,  but  the  health  programme,  European  Research  Council,  and  Marie 
Skłodowska Curie Actions account for about 80% of them. 56% of the publications were 
internationally co-authored. 

The  analysis  tentatively  identified  the  most  important  discoveries  to  which  EU  R&I 
funding has contributed, as well as research on past coronavirus outbreaks on which the 
fight against the current pandemic builds. 

Informing global climate action 

The  results  of  this  analysis  indicate  that  EU  funding  (Framework  Programme  7  and 
Horizon 2020) has contributed to over 2 500 publications referenced in the four reports 
of  the  sixth  Intergovernmental  Panel  on  Climate  Change  (IPCC)  assessment  cycle 
(11.5%  of  all  references).  When  considering  publications  authored/co-authored  by 
researchers from Member States and associated countries, this share stands at 21.5%. For 
the latest report, 14% of the references were supported by EU funding. 

To  support  the  European  Green  Deal,  the  Commission  launched  in  2020  the  last  and 
biggest  Horizon  2020  call.  The  EUR 1  billion  call  attracted  1 550  proposals,  involving 
28 000 applicants, and selected 73 projects (1 778 applicants) for funding. Organisations 
from  75  countries  were  selected  to  receive  funding.  38%  of  the  successful  participants 
come  from  the  private  sector,  and  about  half  of  those  are  SMEs.  The  Commission 
launched a climate impact pilot survey to collect data for assessing the expected benefits 
from this call. 

Evaluation study results 

A series of evaluation studies has been launched as part of the final ex-post evaluation of 
Horizon 2020. In 2021, three studies on specific aspects of Horizon 2020 were completed 
on focus areas, the open access policy and the proposal evaluation system.  

3.6. 

Implementation and monitoring of the Euratom Programme 

In  May  2021,  the  Council  adopted  a  regulation  establishing  the  Euratom  Research  and 
Training Programme 2021-2025. The Commission adopted work programmes for: 

a)  Nuclear direct actions implemented by the JRC 

JRC  published  105  articles  in  peer-reviewed  journals  and  22  in  monographs/other 
journals and co-drafted 7 policy documents and released 6 science-for-policy reports, 89 
technical  reports,  and  2  contributions  to  standards.  Technical  outputs  include  13 
reference  materials,  methods  and  measurements,  17  technical  systems,  and  8  scientific 
databases and datasets. 

JRC organised 14 training  courses for Member  States and the Commission  addressing  
the  Basics  Safety  Standards  Directive  implementation  and  support  the  International 

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Atomic  Energy  Agency  and  Member  States  capabilities  in  nuclear  safeguards  and 
security. 

In  the  nuclear  safeguards  field  the  JRC  provided  technical  support  to  inspections, 
operated the Euratom on-site laboratory in France, and analysed nuclear materials. It also 
developed  improved  analytical  methods  and  provided  support  to  peer  review  of  the 
nuclear stress test in Belarus and Turkey. 

b)  Indirect actions of the Euratom Programme (grants) 

Euratom  grants  fund  research  in  fusion  energy  and  nuclear  fission.  Fission  research 
covers nuclear safety, security, radioactive waste management  and  radiation  protection, 
non-power  applications,  and  education  and  training.  For  fission  research,  the  EU 
contribution is set at EUR 99.9 million for 2021-2022. 

The  Commission  awarded  a  EUR 547  million  grant  to  implement  the  co-funded 
European Partnership for fusion research during 2021-2025. 

4. 

OUTLOOK 2022 

In  2022  the  main  Horizon  Europe  2023-2024  work  programme  will  be  drafted  and 
adopted.  Moreover,  further  preparatory  steps  and  drafting  of  the  strategic  plan  2025-
2027 is planned. 

In  2022,  the  Commission  will  continue  carrying  out  communication  activities  on 
Horizon  Europe,  announcing  the  launch  of  the  2023-2024  work  programme  via  media 
and social media outreach. The Commission will also provide visibility to the launch of 
the development of the strategic plan through communication activities that reach out to 
stakeholders and citizens. 

The  Commission  will  seek  citizens’  engagement  through  many  initiatives,  such  as  the 
EU  Contest  for  Young  Scientists,  the  Horizon  Europe  young  observers  pilot  and 
ERA4You, to  raise awareness  about  and debate  on EU R&I projects.  The Commission 
will continue communicating with stakeholders on Missions and Partnerships, connecting 
with a growing community to address some of Europe’s most pressing challenges. 

The  Commission  will  organise  the  R&I  Days  2022,  bringing  together  policymakers, 
researchers,  entrepreneurs  and  the  public  to  debate  and  shape  the  future  of  R&I  in 
Europe. 

Lastly, the Commission will highlight the role of the EU as a global  player through the 
promotion  of  the  EU  for  the  Mediterranean  R&I  agenda;  the  EU  Africa  Union  joint 
innovation agenda and the EuroScience Open Forum. 

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