Horizon Europe

What it is

Horizon Europe is the European Union’s principal programme for research and innovation, with a budget of €95.5 billion for the period 2021–2027. It supports scientific and technological projects and international cooperation between universities, research institutes and the private sector.

The programme is organised in three pillars:

• Pillar I — Excellent Science. Strengthens the EU’s scientific base, attracts the best talent and promotes excellent research. It includes the European Research Council (ERC), the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and science in the service of EU policy through the Joint Research Centre.
• Pillar II — Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness. Supports collaborative research and innovation in fields of high social impact, organised in thematic clusters, together with the EU missions.
• Pillar III — Innovative Europe. Promotes innovation and supports small and medium-sized enterprises, innovation ecosystems and the transfer of technology from research to market.

Alongside these, the horizontal part Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area aims to narrow the research and innovation gap between Europe’s regions.

Albania’s status

Albania is a fully associated country in Horizon Europe. This status gives the country a position equivalent to European Union Member States as regards participation, with full access to all the programme’s calls and instruments, on equal terms.

The agreement entered into force on 30 May 2022 and applies retroactively from 1 January 2021, with the start of the programme’s seven-year cycle. Albania has taken part in EU research and innovation programmes since 2008.

Albanian institutions are particularly active in the Widening part and in clusters 6 — Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment; 2 — Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society; and 1 — Health. Participation in the “Innovative Europe” pillar remains lower.

Who can apply

Universities, research institutes, businesses and public institutions established in the Republic of Albania, on equal terms with applicants from EU Member States, by virtue of the country’s associated status. The specific eligibility conditions are set out in each call.

What it funds

Financing comes directly from the European Union, under the conditions of the relevant call. NASRI is not a funding body for this programme; its role is coordinating and supporting.

The application process

Calls are published and applications submitted through the European Commission’s Funding and Tenders Portal.

For guidance, Albanian applicants are supported by the National Contact Point (NCP) network, which NASRI coordinates through the Directorate of International Programmes. The NCP network is the main mechanism for informing and supporting applicants: the Agency coordinates the contact points’ activities, exchanges information and good practice, and organises training and regular meetings.

The Agency holds Horizon Europe information days at higher education institutions, public institutions, civil society organisations and businesses, and assists scientific researchers and academic staff — online and in meetings — with the application steps, the budget, grant agreements and reporting.

Governance of the agreement

The agreement is monitored throughout the seven-year period on a partnership basis. Its Article 8 provides for the EU–Albania Joint Committee for Research and Innovation, which assesses the implementation of the agreement, the participation and performance of Albanian legal entities, the level of reciprocal openness, the operation of the financial contribution mechanism and the exchange of information on the use of results, including intellectual property rights.

The Committee meets once a year, alternating between Albania and Brussels.