Science and technology organisation welcomes Horizon 2020

European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) has welcomed the official launch of Horizon 2020. The highly anticipated announcement is an essential milestone in the transition to a more innovative and competitive Europe.

Dr Àngeles Rodríguez-Peña, President of the COST Committee of Senior Officials, said: “We welcome the adoption of Horizon 2020. COST is ready to play its unique role in this context and to continuously effect improvements to accommodate the reality of the new programme, as it will develop over the next seven years. The approval of Horizon 2020 is excellent news not only for COST, but – more importantly – for all European researchers wishing to establish networks and co-operative relations with their peers across the continent and beyond.”

Horizon 2020 aims to strengthen Europe’s global position in science and industrial leadership and tackle societal challenges by bridging the gap between research and the market, ultimately leading to an increase in growth and jobs. The new programme will also be fully open to international participation, targeting European strategic priorities. One of such priorities is enlarging and strengthening the European Research Area (ERA), an endeavour in which COST plays a key role.

COST said it is ready to take on the challenges that lay ahead in Horizon 2020 by enabling breakthrough scientific developments leading to new concepts and products, and thereby contribute to strengthening Europe’s research and innovation capacities.

Horizon 2020 has been allocated a budget of almost €80bn, amounting to a 30% increase from the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). In this context, COST will receive an increased budget compared to the budget allocated under FP7.