EU announces €94.1bn for Horizon Europe 2021-2027

The proposal for the next multiannual financial framework (MFF), the 9th framework programme for research and innovation as of 2021, represents the evolution of Horizon 2020 into Horizon Europe, outlining the priorities and allocating the Research and Innovation budget for 2021-2027.

Andrus Ansip, the EC Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, said: “Our aim has been to make the EU budget fit for future challenges. … To  reinforce this, today we are proposing more investment in artificial intelligence, supercomputing, cybersecurity, skills and eGovernment – all identified by EU leaders as the key areas for the future competitiveness of the EU.”

Martel’s Monique Calisti at the DSIFair 2018

Within the FP9, Digital Europe is an entirely new programme focusing on capacity building and deployment in key areas of digital transformation such as Artificial Intelligence, Supercomputing, Cybersecurity and digital skills. The European Commission proposes a total budget of €9.2 billion (2021-2017) for Digital Europe, areas in which Martel Innovate has worked extensively with great success during the past 20 years.

The Digital Europe programme is in line with the EC’s Digital Single Market Strategy and aims to increase the EU’s international competitiveness as well as developing and reinforcing Europe’s strategic digital capacities. Key capacities under Digital Europe are:

• Supercomputers / high-performance computing
• Artificial intelligence (AI)
• Cybersecurity and trust
• Advanced digital skills (development and training)
• Ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across the economy and society

Martel Innovate H2020 projects’ portfolio shows how our team is already active in covering these key areas including specifically: 5G, IoT, Big Data, AI, and the Next Generation Internet initiative.

Alongside contributing our expertise to the above, Martel has extensive dissemination and communication experience having led several ICT research projects’ marketing activities. Thanks to the long time experience of Martel’s Founder, Martin Potts, and Martel’s Executive Director, Dr Monique Calisti, Martel has a wide and qualified network of partners all over Europe and beyond, which means we know how to assemble winning consortia and create strong partnerships. Our consultants can also assist larger organisations with the administrative tasks associated with the management of – and participation in – such collaborative projects as will be funded under Digital Europe over the next decade.

Monique Calisti, director of Martel Innovate, said: “the recent announcements by the European Commission about the planned investments for the Multi Financial Framework reconfirms our commitment to the development and exploitation of innovative digital technologies for the good of our society. The Next Generation Internet initiative, in particular, is of key relevance for us, not only because we have been involved in its creation, but also because we are strongly convinced digital transformation must empower humans and ensure the centrality of values Europe holds dear, such as openness, inclusion and privacy.”

At Martel we have already started preparing for the future by closely following the EU’s policy and strategic plans. This gives us a competitive advantage, especially when it comes to assisting projects to plan and elaborate on forward-looking research and innovation activities that will bridge Horizon 2020 with Horizon Europe.

Find out how Martel can help your ICT or digital project attract EU funding, and read about Martel’s ongoing projects and successes.

Download the European Commission’s Investing in the Future: Digital Transformation 2021-2027 factsheet