Europe faces major social, environmental and economic challenges, many intensified by the COVID-19 crisis. Research and innovation (R&I) are essential for tackling these challenges, driving recovery, and accelerating the green and digital transitions.
Although home to only 7% of the world's population, Europe:
Now more than ever, the European Commission is committed to keeping the EU at the forefront of global research and innovation.
Over 50% of the EU’s 2021-2027 budget and NextGenerationEU recovery instrument will support modernisation through R&I, climate action, digitalisation, and resilience building.
The EU supports research and innovation through:
Horizon Europe is the EU’s funding programme for research and innovation for 2021-2027. With a budget of €95 billion, it is the world’s most ambitious research and innovation programme. Horizon Europe aims to help achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.
Key Points:
How will it impact Irish civil society organisations?
Horizon Europe provides opportunities for civil society organisations to engage in engaged research that addresses social, environmental, and economic challenges. Cluster 2 (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive society) is of particular interest to the Irish nonprofit community. Civil society organisations can access these funding streams through regular calls for proposals during 2021-2027.
In order to increase the research and innovation impact, Horizon Europe aims to create synergies with other EU funding programmes such as Erasmus+ and Digital Europe. This cross-programme interaction aims to promote faster dissemination and uptake of research and innovation results.
The European Research Area (ERA) is the ambition to create a single, borderless market for research, innovation and technology across the EU. Its aim is to improve Europe's research and innovation landscape, accelerate the EU's transition towards climate neutrality and digital leadership, support its recovery from COVID-19, and strengthen its resilience against future crises.
Key Points:
How will it impact Irish civil society organisations?
The European Research Area promotes participatory science which provides opportunities for civil society organisations to take part in participatory and citizen science projects.
The ERA also aims to develop a roadmap of actions for collaborations between higher education institutions and research. In addition, the ERA will make research and innovation more accessible to all EU citizens through events like citizen science campaigns and hackathons.
European Research and Innovation Days is the EU's annual flagship event for R&I policy. The two-day event brings together policymakers, researchers, stakeholders, and citizens to debate and shape the future of research and innovation in Europe and beyond.
Key Points:
How will it impact Irish civil society organisations?
The event provides a unique opportunity for civil society organisations to influence EU research and innovation policy, to network with potential research partners, and to share perspectives and priorities.
Decisions that are made at the EU level can have a big impact on our daily lives. At The Wheel we believe that citizens’ active participation in society is vital so they can play a part in influencing the decisions that affect them.
Here’s how you can connect with the EU:
Together.eu is an online community of pan-European active citizens interested in learning from each other and finding common ground on EU issues. Created by the European Parliament during the 2019 European elections, together.eu encourages everybody to participate in democracy through events and activities.
Together.eu connects people both locally and across Europe to meet, share knowledge, and learn new skills. The community has brought together more than 350,000 people who actively advocate the importance of voting, democracy and civic engagement. Today, together.eu stands as a vibrant, interconnected and growing community dedicated to advancing European democracy.
Check out the latest events organised by the European Parliament and the together.eu community, happening online and across Europe, by joining together.eu.
Following the European elections in June 2024, 14 MEPs representing Ireland's three constituencies, Dublin, South and Midlands-North-West, took their seats in the European Parliament on 16 July 2024 for Parliament's 10th term.
Due to demographic changes, Ireland gained one additional MEP, bringing the number of MEPs elected in 2024 to 14. The additional seat was allocated to the Midlands-North-West constituency. Going forward, the constituencies of Ireland South and Midlands-North-West will have five seats each, and the Dublin constituency will have four seats.
Who are your MEPs and how can you contact them? We have gathered the information for you!
Through involvement in EU-funded projects, you’ll deliver on current EU policy and programme goals while helping to shape future policy.
Learn more about the various EU funding programmes and the projects they support.
.jpeg)
