Proposed strategy for Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the European framework programme for research and innovation, to be implemented during the period 2021–2027. Horizon Europe shall contribute to fulfilling the vision of a flourishing, fair and sustainable society. The programme shall contribute to green growth and competitiveness, and sets clear global goals for fighting climate change and working towards sustainable development.

This report forms a proposed strategy for participating in Horizon Europe for Sweden and Swedish actors within research and innovation. The proposal was developed by the Swedish Research Council for Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning (Formas), the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (Forte), the Swedish National Space Agency, the Swedish Energy Agency, the Swedish Research Council, and the Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova), on behalf of the Government. The aim is to maximise the benefit to Swedish research and innovation, and to enable synergies and interaction between actors at national and EU level.

“We have continued the good collaboration between funding bodies that we had during the work on our joint input,” says Sven Stafström. “The strategy is well in line with our priorities, which is also due to the Swedish Research Council having been well prepared and proactive in the work. We have, for example, safeguarded research quality and good preconditions for the researchers who apply for ERC grants. But we have also ackknowledged the need for reciprocity, in that Sweden might receive grants from the EU and at the same time give something back to the EU, in the form of new knowledge, competence and innovation that can help solve Europe’s societal challenges.”

The proposed strategy was developed based on analyses, as well as interviews and survey responses from various research and innovation actors. The starting point is five ambitious aims for what Swedish participation might result in

• world-class in terms of research quality and innovative power
• knowledge and capability that ensure sustainable development
• effective sharing of resources and data
• internationally attractive actors and environments
• increased influence on the European research and innovation policy, and on the framework programme.
  

Based on these aims, ten strategic goals have been formulated, as well as a number of associated measures. All goals entail raising the current level of ambition, and increased Swedish participation in all parts of the framework programme.

The Government assignment started in May 2020, and the proposal was submitted to the Government in October 2020.