The European Commission has announced how it will spend €30bn on the EU’s research and innovation funding programme Horizon 2020 during 2018-2020.

Commissioner for Research, Science and Innovation Carlos Moedas said: “Artificial Intelligence, genetics, blockchain: science is at the core of today’s most promising breakthrough innovations.

“Europe is a world leader in science and technology and will play a major role in driving innovation.

“The commission is making a concerted effort – including with the European Innovation Council, which takes its first steps today – to give Europe’s many innovators a springboard to become world-leading companies.”

Over the next three years, the commission will seek greater impact of its research funding by focusing on fewer, but more critical topics such as migration, security, climate, clean energy and the digital economy.

Horizon 2020 will also be more geared towards boosting breakthrough, market-creating innovation.

The commission is launching the first phase of the European Innovation Council, mobilising €2.7bn from Horizon 2020 to support high-risk, high-gain innovation to create the markets of the future.

The initiative complements wider efforts made by the Juncker Commission since the beginning of its mandate to give Europe’s many innovative entrepreneurs every opportunity to thrive.

The post Commission to invest in societal challenges and breakthrough innovation appeared first on Horizon 2020 Projects.