HORIZON EUROPE

DEVELOPING INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH AND INNOVATION PARTNERSHIPS, ESPECIALLY THROUGH THE HORIZON EUROPE FRAMEWORK PROGRAM

News

CONTEXT

Horizon Europe is the European Commission’s (EC) most recent framework funding program for research and innovation. It supports the creation, dissemination, and promotion of science- and evidence-based solutions to address the world’s most significant challenges.

The program fosters opportunities for international collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation to address major global challenges. It offers, among other things:

a funding budget of €93.5 billion (over CAD 140 billion) over seven years (2021–2027);
a network of partners and business specialists from Europe and around the world.

Horizon 2020, the predecessor to Horizon Europe, funded more than 7,500 collaborative projects with participants from 149 countries. Canada’s participation in Horizon 2020 ranked third among non-associated and non-EU countries.

ELIGIBILITY

Canadian researchers and innovators can participate as associate members in consortia under Horizon Europe Pillar 2 calls.

On July 3, 2024, the Government of Canada and the European Union signed an agreement allowing Canada’s association with the Horizon Europe program. Canadian entities can therefore also participate in missions and partnerships under Pillar 2, subject to associate country status.

ALL Canadians are ELIGIBLE: businesses (small and large), universities, researchers, etc.

CURRENT SITUATION

High participation – third after the United States and China – Canada has been active since 1984.
Canada’s call success rate for the entire HE program is 21.2% (average: 17%).
In demand: trust, reliability, like-mindedness, common priorities.
For-profit companies 10%, e.g. Hydro-Québec and Ballard Power Systems; universities are the most active.

PILLAR 2

Pillar 2 aims to address some of the world’s greatest challenges. It includes activities led by the Joint Research Centre, which provides the European Union and national policymakers with independent scientific evidence and technical support.

Canadians can still participate in calls under other pillars that are open to international partners. As citizens of an associated country, Canadians applying for Pillar 2 funding can now:

Join and lead consortia projects;
Receive direct funding;
Collaborate with European partners and other associated countries in various areas of research and innovation;
Benefit from increased collaboration and networking;
Expand the reach of their research and the citation impact of their work;
Showcase their expertise on the international stage, which could lead to the commercialization of concrete solutions to global problems;
Retain their intellectual property rights for funded projects.

Canada can now play a greater role in defining the direction, objectives and results of Horizon Europe projects.

FOR QUEBEC

In April 2025, the Quebec Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy (MEIE) mandated PRIMA Québec to develop international research and innovation partnerships, particularly within the framework of “Horizon Europe.”

This project aims to support stakeholders in the Quebec research and innovation ecosystem, particularly the RSRI (Sectoral Industrial Research Groups) and their members, in their efforts to develop collaborative international research projects, particularly within the framework of the “Horizon Europe” program. It will include:

Raising awareness among stakeholders in the client networks of the Sectoral Industrial Research Groups (RSRI) and, more broadly, in the Quebec industrial research (R&I) ecosystem, of the potential for collaborations and projects within the framework of the “Horizon Europe” program;
Identify priority research areas and target relevant funding opportunities within Pillar 2 of the program with which Canada is associated (Global Issues and European Industrial Competitiveness 2021-2027), as well as connect with potential Quebec partners;
Support companies and research centers in research, partnerships, project development, and/or project submission processes;
Work closely with various stakeholders to assess current status and formulate proposals for better alignment between Quebec’s strategic objectives and those of the European Union.

ARTICLE

Sébastien Garbarino, Horizon Europe coordinator for Quebec RSRI, explains in this article, published by Innovation News Network, how Industrial Research Sector Groups (RSRI) are helping to accelerate research and innovation in Quebec.

To read the article, click here⬇