Widening ?

Currently the EU is facing a situation where disparities in research excellence and innovation performance at national and regional level are significantly wide . Furthermore, low participation in the EU framework programs, inadequate R&D&I investment at national level or lack of synergies between national research systems/strategies and the EU landscape in certain countries hamper competitiveness, business growth and employment creation.

To prevent further disparities, maximize investment in R&D and enhance economic growth, the H2020 took relevant actions under the separate specific objective “Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation“. Its core aim is to fill in the gap between research and innovation in countries lagging behind the rest of Europe in terms of scientific output by investing in selected knowledge institutions, enhancing research excellence, creating new CoE or creating space for international cooperation for researches

Teaming

Teaming will invest in Europe’s research and innovation potential through supporting the creation of new (or upgrading of existing) Centres of Excellence on the basis of partnerships with internationally leading institutions.

Twinning

Twinning aims to build on the huge potential of networking for excellence through knowledge transfer and exchange of best practice between research institutions and leading partners.

ERA Chairs

ERA Chairs will bring outstanding researchers to universities and other research organisations that have high potential for research excellence.

The Policy support facility

The Policy Support Facility will aim to improve the design, implementation and evaluation of national/regional research and innovation policies. It will offer expert advice to public authorities at national or regional level on a voluntary basis, covering the needs to access the relevant body of knowledge, benefit from the insight of international experts, use state of the art methodologies and tools, and receive tailor-made advice.

Cost

Supporting access to international networks for excellent researchers and innovators who lack sufficient involvement in European and international networks. This will include support provided through COST.

NCPs

Strengthening the administrative and operational capacity of transnational networks of National Contact Points will allow financial and technical support and ensure the flow of information between them and the Horizon 2020 implementation bodies.