Horizon Europe – Transversal Pillar – Widening participation and spreading excellency – 2021-2027

This pillar aims to promote the participation of “less performing” EU member states and associated countries in R&I programmes through targeted calls of proposals.

Objectives

WIDENING (Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence):

• To strengthen or build the R&I capacities of every EU countries and regions
• To support the free flow of knowledge by attracting top talent to eligible countries and regions and reversing brain drain into brain gain

ERA (Reforming and Enhancing the European R&I system):

• Prioritize investments and reforms in R&I
• Improve access to excellence across the EU and strengthen R&I systems
• Translate R&I results into the economy to achieve the objectives of the dual transition, boost the resilience and competitiveness of our economies and societies
• Deepen the ERA to advance the free circulation of knowledge and ensure an efficient, equitable and modern R&I system

Priorities

• To create new centers of excellence or improving existing centers in Widening countries/regions
• To support the creation of university networks aimed ultimately at the creation of an alliance of European universities or a similar network
• To promote synergy with European structural funds in the process of internationalization of Widening teams and exploitation of research results on the market
• To attract renowned academics to Widening institutions and consolidate a team of excellence
• To stimulate interoperability and modernization of  academic careers in Widening countries/regions

Structure

• 1 – Broaden participation and spread excellence (“WIDENING”)
  • Destination 1 – Improve access to excellence
  • Destination 2 – Attract and mobilize the best talents
• 2 – Reform and consolidate the European research and innovation system (“ERA”)

Eligible countries

Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia; the Associated Countries as well as the Outermost regions.