Direção de Projectos (DP)

The “Horizon Europe” Framework Programme was launched by the European Commission in April 2021, with a total budget of 95.5 billion euros, aiming to promote excellence in the European research and innovation area. So far, about 21.4 billion euros have been allocated, with Portugal being responsible for about 490 million euros in competitive projects (2.3% of the total), raised by entities of the scientific and technological system and national companies.

The increase in the levels of national participation and proposals funded in the demanding pillar of scientific excellence of Horizon Europe (European Research Council, Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions and Research Infrastructures) should be highlighted, with around 92 million euros raised for Portugal, corresponding to 1.8% of the total funding allocated. In comparison with the previous Framework Programme (Horizon 2020), this percentage of funding achieved by Portugal already exceeds that recorded in these same instruments between 2024-2020 (which corresponded to 1.2% of the total available budget).

Also worth highlighting are the good results in the Widening program, with 55 million euros being raised for Portugal, about 8% of the total funding allocated in this programme.

Even though there is a progression margin regarding Portugal’s levels of participation in Horizon Europe given the size of the national scientific community, the overall excellent performance of Portugal is still noteworthy, as well as the growing diversification of beneficiary entities, including more coverage at the regional level.

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