b'EDITORS MESSAGEWHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH95 BILLION EURO? ation (20032006), the programmes ranapproved is low. In the first half of Horizon over a period of four or five years. Since2020, the overall success rate of appli-2007, they have run for seven years. Itcants to collaborations was just 12.6 per was the treaties of Maastricht (1992) andcent. But dont fret for too long about that, Amsterdam (1997) that laid out the EUsas Horizon Europes larger budget is an science and technology policy. It aims toeffort to address this problem.make research in Europe a transnational activity, wherever appropriate. CountriesRETURN ON INVESTMENTintend to share costs and at the sameWe dont know how the research projects time, pool resources for large-scale pro- under Horizon Europe will do, but there jects. They agree to work together to findis decent data available on its predeces-solutions to problems affecting the wholesor, Horizon 2020. An interim evaluation, of Europe. released in 2017, concluded that this Marcel Bruins programme was having a very positive FUNDING impact. By using macro-economic models, The FPRI funding is drawn from the reg- projections were made, indicating that it P robably most of you have heard ofular contributions made by EU Memberwill generate more than 400 to 600 bil-Horizon Europe. This is the EUsStates. On top of that, up to and includinglion in economic gains plus create up to current Framework Programme forthe eighth programme (Horizon 2020), the179,000 jobs by 2030. Research and Innovation (FPRI) for 2021- associated countries made contributionsThere are many other achievements, 2027 and has a budget of a whoppingwhich were based on their gross domesticfor example, in the period 2014-2021, over 95.5 billion! It officially came into effectproduct (GDP). For Horizon Europe, a new82,000 papers were published in peer-re-1 January 2021. This Ninth FPRI helpsfunding mechanism is envisaged. Eachviewed journals, 3,800 patent applica-the EU to achieve the UNs Sustainableassociated country will in principle pay astions were made, 260,000 innovations Development Goals, it also seeks to tacklemuch as its researchers are granted in EUwere produced, and 3,800 start-ups were climate change, and plans to boost theproject funding, according to the new paysupported. All this is not bad for an initial EUs competitiveness and growth. as you go principle.75 billion investment in H2020.According to its website, the pro- To get an impression of what kind gramme facilitates collaboration andRISING RESEARCH CASH.of projects are being granted, I looked strengthens the impact of research andThe EU has steadily increased the valueup the Cordis database. This is the innovation in developing, supporting,of its large framework research pro- European Commissions primary source and implementing EU policies whilegrammes. Since their inception, FPRIof results from the projects funded by the tackling global challenges. It supportsbudgets have continuously grown (seeEUs framework programmes, from FP1 creating and better dispersing of excel- table), and the thematic priorities andto Horizon Europe. I zoomed in on agri-lent knowledge and technologies. It cre- instruments have been adapted accord- culture related projects and found a few ates jobs, fully engages the EUs talenting to social and political needs in Europe.hundred very interesting ones. A small pool, boosts economic growth, promotesselection of those projects, you will find industrial competitiveness and optimisesTable 1: Budget (billion ) for the EU-FPRIelsewhere in this issue. investment impact within a strengthenedprogrammes for each period It is clear that the EU FPRI is an European Research Area. 1987-19915.4 essential tool to boost research and foster These very popular multi-year EU1990-19946.6 collaboration at the European level. The research programmes are aimed at sup- 1994-199813.1 ambitious programmes will help develop porting both academic and commercial1998-200214.9 excellence throughout the European research, across all its Member States.2002-200619.3 Research Area and create more innova-Others, so-called associate countries, for2007-201355.8 tion in much needed areas. With a popu-example Israel, Switzerland, Tunisia, or2014-202081.6 lation that keeps growing, a climate that Armenia that agree to pay, can also join2021-202795.5 keeps changing, we need all the innova-in. All these counties set the agenda fortion we can get. Now all we need is a con-science across the bloc and give rise toPOPULARITY ducive regulatory environment. Perhaps major initiatives. With so much money available, it is no sur- we can do an EU project on that? prise that many groups have applied for HISTORY some of it. The collaboration programmesMarcel BruinsThe first EU FPRI was introduced in 1984.are heavily oversubscribed, and the suc- editorial director, European SeedAnd up to and including the sixth gener- cess rate of getting your project proposalmbruins@seedworldgroup.com4IEUROPEAN SEEDIEUROPEAN-SEED.COM'