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European Research Framework Programme

The procedure of awarding research funds out of the EU budget is clearly defined in terms of content and time, this procedure being referred to as Research Framework Programme (RFP). All measures of the Community in the field of Research and Technological Development (RTD) are integrated in this framework programme.

Since the first framework programme for research, technology and development was introduced in 1984, the European Union has played a leading role in the planning and implementation of multidisciplinary research and cooperation measures in Europe.

The ninth framework programme for research and innovation - Horizon Europe - is currently underway. The framework programme, like the previous framework programmes, extends over seven years (from 01.01.2021 to 31.12.2027).

The motto of the new programme is "Evolution instead of Revolution". In doing so, the EU would like to emphasise that many programmes will continue largely unchanged. The EU framework programme rests on three pillars. These pillars are:

  • "Scientific excellence",
  • "Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness" and
  • "Innovative Europe”.

They are supplemented by the area “Increase in participation and strengthening of the European Research Area".

Horizon Europe

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National Contact Points (NCPs)

The central task of the National Contact Points (NCPs) is to advise applicants in the areas of the respective framework programme.

The National Contact Point for EURATOM - Radiation Protection is located at the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS).

An overview of the German NCPs for Horizon Europe can be found here.

The current research programme is called Horizon Europe. It is the ninth research framework programme of the European Union and the world's largest single funding programme for research and innovation. It aims to build a knowledge and innovation-based society and a competitive economy while at the same time contributing to sustainable development.

Horizon Europe helps implement the European Commission's political guidelines. It plays an important role in the digital and green transition in particular.

At the website of Horizon Europe, provided by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, you may find all basic information on the Framework Programme and contact details of information centres, such as the National Contact Points (NCP). The portal also informs about the structure, application and evaluation procedures or relevant events. The site is continuously updated to include the latest information (in German).

More information on the research programme (in English) can be found on the European Commission's website: Horizon Europe.

Euratom Programme

The Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021-2025) is a nuclear research and training programme with an emphasis on the continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection. It complements the achievement of Horizon Europe’s objectives including in the context of the energy transition.

In line with the Euratom Treaty, the programme will run for 5 years, from 2021 to 2025, to be extended in 2025 by 2 years in order to be aligned with the EU's long term budget 2021-2027.

The Euratom programme is a part of the EU's efforts to further develop technological leadership and promote excellence in nuclear research and innovation, in particular ensuring the highest standards of safety, security, safeguards, radiation protection, safe spent fuel, radioactive waste management and decommissioning in the nuclear field.

Nuclear research contributes to social well-being, economic prosperity and environmental sustainability by improving nuclear safety, security and radiation protection.

Radiation protection research has led to improvements in medical technologies (e.g. diagnosis and radiotherapy) from which many citizens benefit. This research is leading to further improvements in nuclear medicine as well as in other sectors such as industry, agriculture, environment and security.

The 5 main novelties of the new programme:

Fusion, nuclear safety, radioactive waste management and decommissioning, and radiation protection remain at the core of the Euratom research. The new Programme has five new features:

  1. Simplification. The structure of specific objectives has been streamlined and the number of objectives have been reduced.
  2. Education and Training. These activities have been strengthened to maintain and develop further nuclear expertise and knowledge in Europe. Nuclear researchers will be eligible to the Postdoctoral Fellowships of the Marie Skłodowska Curie actions to enhance the mobility of nuclear scientists.
  3. Synergies with Horizon Europe. A clearer legal base for synergies with Horizon Europe has been provided. The Euratom Research and Training Programme uses mainly the same instruments and rules for participation as Horizon Europe.
  4. Synergies between actions. Closer coordination and co-design of Work Programmes will allow nuclear researchers to better access to JRC expertise and its research infrastructure. Where relevant, the JRC will complement activities of the consortia receiving Euratom grants.
  5. Focus on health issues. The new Euratom Work Programme addresses research on cross-sectorial fertilisation and non-power applications. An emblematic example is the use of ionising radiation to support safe and optimised medical procedures, contributing to Europe’s Beating Cancer action plan. This will be implemented through a new Partnership initiative and topic in the Euratom work programme for 2021-22.

It will expand research into non-power applications of ionising radiation and make improvements in the areas of education, training and access to research infrastructures.

The Euratom programme puts a strong emphasis on developing nuclear skills and competence. This will allow Europe to maintain world leadership in nuclear safety and waste management and to attain the highest level of protection from radiation.

It will support the mobility of researchers in the nuclear field in the framework of Horizon Europe's Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).

Most of the EURATOM PROGRAMME will be implemented through 3 EUROPEAN PARTNERSHIPS:

The European partnership - PIANOFORTE - will build on and further develop the research priorities as defined in the roadmap elaborated by the European Joint Programme 2015-2020 for the integration of radiation protection research - CONCERT.

The Partnership will provide solutions and recommendations for protecting people and the environment from the potentially harmful effects of ionising radiation in all exposure situations. The Partnership will be aligned with the Basic Safety Standards Directive. It will improve the quality of life and health of European patients through the development of new and optimised diagnostic and cancer therapies involving radiation sources.

The European Commission provides detailed information on the Euratom Research and Training Programme.

Applying for research funds

oGeneral information on the new European Union (EU) Framework Programme for Research and Innovation is summarised on the Federal Ministry of Education and Research's (BMBF) website (in German only). Current calls are published on the European Union's Participant Portal.

The "Funding & Tenders Portal"

The "Funding & Tenders Portal" is the most important point of access to funding programmes and tenders of the European Union. All calls for tenders for Horizon Europe are published on the Funding & Tenders portal of the European Commission. Applications are also only submitted via this portal.

Project proposals, i.e. applications for funding for research and innovation, can only be submitted as part of an open call for proposals. An overview of all calls and current calls for tenders will be published in the EU participant portal.

Former Programmes

EU research framework programmes have existed since 1984. Since then they have grown considerably in terms of time and financial scope.

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Horizon 2020

Horizon 2020 was the framework programme for research and innovation, providing funding of approximately €80 billion during the period 2014 to 2020. Its funding activities covered the entire innovation chain – from basic research to the provision of marketable products and services.

The programme addressed the following target groups: higher education institutions, research institutions, companies (including SMEs in particular) as well as stakeholders in the innovation sector in the widest sense.

With its three central programme areas, Horizon 2020 promoted the excellence of science in Europe, expanded the leading role of European industry and developed solutions to the great societal challenges of our day. The diverse funding opportunities under Horizon 2020 cover collaborative projects, individual support for outstanding researchers, mobility and training activities, support and accompanying measures, public-public as well as public-private partnerships, venture capital funding, innovative procurement and prizes.

The "Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community - Euratom (2014-2018)" promoted research and training measures in the nuclear field. It complemented Horizon 2020 - the framework programme for research and innovation (2014-2020).

Euratom Programme

The "Euratom Programme for Nuclear Research and Education (2014 to 2018)" supports measures related to nuclear research and education. It complements and supports the most important goals of Horizon 2020 – Excellent Science, Industrial Leadership and Societal Challenges – by appropriate measures:

  1. Improvement of nuclear safety (Societal Challenges)
  2. Contributions to the development of long-term solutions in the area of Disposal and to the development of partitioning and transmutation systems (Excellent Science, Societal Challenges)
  3. Development of expertise through education and mobility measures (Excellent Science)
  4. Advancement of Radiation protection and medical applications (Excellent Science, Societal Challenges)
  5. Development of nuclear fusion as an energy source (Industrial Leadership, Societal Challenges)
  6. Establishing the basis for future nuclear fusion installations by developing material, technology and concepts (Industrial Leadership, Societal Challenges)
  7. Promoting innovations and strengthening the industry’s competitiveness (Industrial Leadership)
  8. Securing the availability and use of infrastructures that are of pan-European interest (Excellent Science)
    Through the Euratom programme, the direct measures of the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) are also supported.

The Seventh Framework Programme

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The "Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom)" ended on 31 December 2013. This article provides information on the programme since more than 20 Euratom projects will continue for some time.

The prior objective of the Research Framework Programme (from 2007 to 2013) was to strengthen the Community's competitive capacity and to support those research measures that are necessary due to the Community´s policy. The primary focus was thus the trans-national research and development forming the basis for an innovative European economy and at the same time being of immediate benefit to the citizen.

The "Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) for nuclear research and training activities" was the radiation protection relevant programme. It comprised the themes of fusion energy research as well as nuclear fission and radiation protection and the themes of the "Joint Research Centre (JRC)" and had the following objectives:

  • Advancing scientific and engineering bases for nuclear fusion and building the ITER fusion experiment,
  • Creating the scientific-technical bases for the safe disposal of waste with long-lived radionuclides,
  • Improving the safety level, resource efficiency and competitive capacity of nuclear energy,
  • Ensuring a reliable system for the protection of man and the environment from the effects of ionising radiation.

Radiation protection in detail

The safe use of ionising radiation and radioactive substances in medicine and industry is based on a solid radiation protection policy and its efficient implementation. Research initiatives in the field of radiation protection are of great importance in order to maintain or, respectively, improve the already achieved high protection level. The objective of this research is to support the EU radiation protection policy and its efficient implementation through EU-wide standardised statutory provisions and their set-up in practice as well as a rapid and efficient course of action in case of acute, non-predictable requirements, such as radiological incidents.

Main research is:

  • Quantification of risks for low and protracted exposures,
  • Medical uses of ionising radiation and radioactive substances
  • Emergency management and rehabilitation
  • Malevolent uses of radiation or radioactive material

PROJECTS in FP 7 / EURATOM

Current projects in FP 7 / EURATOM (CORDIS Website)

The Presentation of some projects in EURATOM FP7 has been published in Research and Training Projects by the European Commission.

The 6th framework programme

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The emphasis of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) 2002 to 2006 was on high-quality research measures in the scope of which science and research in Europe can be focussed and integrated. Furthermore, trans-national cooperation was to be optimised.

Short presentations of the EURATOM research projects and training under the Sixth Framework Programme have been published by the European Commission under the title Euratom research projects and training activities.

State of 2023.07.13

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