Horizon 2020, the EU’s €70.2 billion framework programme for research and innovation in 2014-20202, was approved by MEP’s on Thursday.

Parliament amended it to improve for small firms, attract more people into science and more scientists to join the programme, and earmark funding for non-fossil energy research.

The Horizon 2020 programmes have three main pillars:

– Societal challenges (includes grants top-level individual researchers, and investments in future technologies and training for researchers projects).

– Excellent science (includes investment in future technologies and training to researchers).

– Industrial leadership (investments in biotechnology and space technologies)

– Support for small firms and energy

MEPs made it a target that at least 11% of the Horizon 2020 budget should go to small and medium sized enterprises. Moreover, there will be a specialised SMEs department, with its own budget, to ensure that the programme’s calls for tenders are SME-friendly.

To further EU climate goals, MEPs earnmarked 85% of the Horizon 2020 energy budget (around €5.4 billion) for non-fossil fuel energy research. Another around €750 milion will go to measures to widen the group of researchers participating in the programme and €400 million will go to “Science with and for society” projects to attract young students to take up careers in science.