Innovation ministers discuss ins and outs of Horizon 2020
Mar 9, 2012
Innovation ministers came together to discuss the Commission's proposals for Horizon 2020 at a Competitiveness Council meeting in Brussels on 21 February. The plans for a new streamlined EU research and innovation funding programme, set to kick off in 2014, were outlined by Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn on 30 November 2011.
At the meeting, presided over by Danish Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education Mr Morten Østergaard, ministers discussed cross-cutting issues within the Horizon 2020 programme, with a particular focus on the role of social sciences and humanities, as well as small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) participation.
The meeting was the third time ministers have sat down to go through the plans. They last met at an informal Competitiveness Council meeting held in Copenhagen on 2 February which followed the first general exchange of views at the 6 December Competitiveness Council.
The Commission's draft plan states that the EUR 80 billion Horizon 2020 budget will focus on supporting excellence in the science base, tackling societal challenges and securing industrial leadership and competitive frameworks.
All delegations expressed their support for facilitating SME participation in the innovation process.
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