Horizon 2020 is a European Union framework programme that focuses on innovation and research, whilst pursuing three main objectives:
- Excellent science: supporting the best ideas, developing talents in Europe, enabling researchers to access priority research infrastructures and making Europe an attractive place for the world’s best researchers.
- Industrial leadership: supporting key industrial technologies, such as digital technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology, and helping innovative SMEs to develop and become leading global companies.
- Societal challenges: supporting projects that address today’s major societal challenges, such as health, food security, energy, transport, climate change and social inclusion.
H2020: a few key figures
- Financing of 665 projects from 785 Brussels beneficiaries (=45% of Belgian beneficiaries)
- Total financing amount of €1.315 billion, which corresponds to 38% of the total amount granted to Belgium (the Brussels Region represents 13% of the gross R&D expenses of Belgium).
- Average success rate of research and innovation project proposals involving Brussels organisations is 20%, compared to 17% at Belgian level and 12% at the level of the whole programme.
- Average financing amount granted to Brussels beneficiaries of €348,096, an amount slightly lower than the Belgian average (€398,926).
- Average financial EU contribution: 70% of the budgets foreseen for these projects (73% at Belgian level and 82% for the whole H2020 financing).
- Main beneficiaries: international organisations (53% of the total financing amount granted to Brussels players), universities (15%), SMEs (9%), research centres (8%), large enterprises (6%) and public sector (6%).
Brussels, a master in the art of consortia
Most opportunities were taken up by international consortia, a requirement in most H2020 calls for projects. In particular, this approach enables SMEs to collaborate with top-level cross-border, cross-sector and cross-disciplinary teams, whilst benefiting from the research of leading academics, as well as the frequent involvement of industry representatives or public sector stakeholders, paving the way for potential long-term collaborations across several target markets.
Success stories from Brussels
Several types of Brussels stakeholders stood out in the various calls, in partnership with organisations from all sectors and disciplines, in Europe and third countries, thus reflecting the openness to the world of the H2020 programme.
- This was notably the case with SMEs such as 3E, StratejAI, Usitoo, public bodies like STIB, Innoviris, hub.brussels and the city of Brussels, and large organisations, including S.A.B.C.A, Brussels Airport and Solvay. Brussels Airport is also coordinating an ongoing project at a total estimated cost of €33 million, with an EU contribution of €25 million.
- The VUB and the ULB also secured €106.36 million and €69.15 million, respectively, in grants under Horizon 2020. They ranked at the top of Brussels-based organisations in terms of funding secured for their involvement in 200 and 131 projects, respectively.
- The non-profit organisation Meoh contributed to a major research infrastructure project within a consortium of 24 partners coordinated by the CNRS (FR), for which the EU’s financial contribution totalled €5.6 million, of which €146,000 was allocated to cover Meoh’s activities.
The EIC Accelerator: the holy grail of European funding for SMEs
Several businesses particularly stood out by securing funding from the highly competitive European Innovation Council Accelerator. In particular, we should highlight the success of the following SMEs:
- The Brussels-based biotechnology company Fyteko, which received almost €2 million, enabling the small team to boost the development of its biostimulant – which improves plants’ resilience to climate change – and to accelerate its entry into the European market;
- MoveUp, which has developed the first mobile health app to be (temporarily) reimbursed by the INAMI, received €1.7 million in grants and €1 million in capital to accelerate the development of its app in Europe and the United States.
These figures demonstrate the success and commitment of Brussels-based organisations within the H2020 Framework Programme and are taken from the final report on the H2020 programme produced by NCP Brussels, which is responsible for supporting Brussels-based companies seeking European funding, as well as the Research team at hub.brussels.
