The Commission has adopted the main work program of Horizon Europe for 2021-2022, outlining the specific objectives and thematic areas that will receive a total funding of 14.7B€. These investments will help accelerate the green and digital transition by contributing to a sustainable recovery from the coronavirus pandemic and improving the EU's resilience to future crises.
Around €5.8 billion in total will be invested in research and innovation to support the European Green Deal and the EU's commitment to make the EU the first climate neutral continent by 2050. The funds will support projects that advance climate change science and develop solutions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. For example, planned activities will accelerate the sustainable and equitable transition to clean energy and mobility, help adapt food systems and support the circular economy and bioeconomy, maintain and enhance natural carbon sinks in ecosystems, and incentivize climate change adaptation.
Making the next ten years European digital decade and laying the foundation for new digital businesses in the future are also key goals of the program. Around €4 billion will be allocated for the development of basic digital technologies over the period 2021-2022.
In addition, the work program will allocate a total of around €1.9 billion in investments to remedy the immediate economic and social damage caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In line with NextGenerationEU, the funding will help build a post-coronavirus Europe that is not only greener and more digital, but also more resilient to current and future challenges, including focusing on areas that aim to modernize health systems and contribute to research capabilities, particularly with regard to vaccine development.
