Horizon Europe is finally on the march

June 18, 2021, 2:00 pm

The European Commission has adopted the main work programme of Horizon Europe for the period 2021-2022, which outlines the objectives and specific topic areas that will receive a total of €14.7 billion in funding (out of the 95.5 billion for the 7-year period until 2027). The newly-published Horizon Europe work programme is based on the Horizon Europe’s Strategic Plan, which was adopted in March 2021 to set the EU’s research and innovation priorities for 2021-2024. 

According to the Work Plan, these first investments will help accelerate the green and digital transitions and will contribute to sustainable recovery from the pandemic and to EU resilience against future crises. Under Pillar 2 of Horizon Europe, there is for the first time a dedicated envelope for culture, that is Cluster 2 ‘Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Societies’. It focuses on challenges related to democratic governance, cultural heritage and the creative economy, as well as social and economic transformations through culture.

Among the three different destinations of Cluster 2, the “Innovative Research on the European Cultural Heritage and the Cultural and Creative Industries” destination (with an overall budget of 51.50 million euros for 2021, and 93 million euros for 2022) will support proposals aiming to promote better access and engagement with cultural heritage and improve its protection, enhancement and restoration, as well as fostering the cultural and creative sectors and promoting cultural diversity. Within this destination framework, there are three groups of calls, which include a total of 16 specific topic areas.

For 2021, theResearch and Innovation on cultural heritage and CCIs” (with an overall budget of 45 million euros) will include topics such as New ways of participatory management and sustainable financing of museums and other cultural institutions, Cultural and creative industries as a driver of innovation and competitiveness. Calls will open on 22 June with upcoming deadlines on 7 October. 

Complementarities and synergies with other relevant EU programmes (Creative Europe, Erasmus +) will be sought, the Work Programme reads. The first calls for proposals will open and be available on the Commission’s Funding and Tenders Portal. Potential applicants for Cluster 2 ‘Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Societies’ can find further detailed information during the info day of 1 July (open for participation without prior registration).

For 2022, the group of calls “Research and innovation on cultural heritage and CCIs” (with a total budget of 93 million euros) will include the other 10 specific calls. Among them, safeguarding endangered languages in Europe, Europe’s cultural heritage and arts, and International competitiveness of the European filmmaking industry. The call opening is expected on 20 Jan 2022 with deadline(s) on 20 April 2022. All funding information and details on how to apply are on the Funding and Tenders portal.

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