Press H2020: Specific Programme adopted by unanimity in the Committee on Industry

Today, Maria da Graça Carvalho's Report on the Specific Programme implementing Horizon 2020 was adopted by unanimity with 55 votes in the Committee on Industry, Research and Energy of the European Parliament.

This text is in response to the document presented by the European Commission on 30 November 2011 and it will "define in detail" the priorities for research and innovation for the 2014-2020 period. The 3 priorities established in the Horizon 2020 programme are: "Excellence in Science", the creation of an "Industrial Leadership" and answers to "Societal Challenges".

"This programme is the most important financing tool that exists in the EU for innovation and research" said Maria da Graça Carvalho MEP.

Besides excellence as main criteria for participation, the new programme proposes the creation of synergies with the structural funds. Ms Carvalho considers that "Horizon 2020 should be articulated and complemented with the structural funds, which should enable the entrepreneurs developing projects in the priority areas of Horizon 2020, using these funds to finance equipments and human resources. They would also improve the results of research developed under the Horizon 2020 programme."    

As far as Industry is concerned, Maria da Graça Carvalho defends that "Horizon 2020 aims at stimulating an active participation of the European small and medium enterprises - essential to the improvement of the economic competitiveness. This would counteract the tendency of the last years of the reduction of industries' participation in the European programmes".

The report  also presents new measures which aim at increasing employment rates for young scientists, "the youth unemployment is a problem that Europe has to face directly. Therefore, the participation rules in the projects will be configured, so that a biggest possible number of researchers, not bound to the research centres, can be more involved. The programme will contribute to avoid the "European brains" to escape from the EU research area." 

This programme also presents scientific and technical solutions for the problems currently facing society, especially regarding health, active ageing, clean energy, bio economy, and sustainable transport.

The negotiations between the European Parliament, the European Council and the European Commission will start in January.