Cross cutting priorities

BLUE GROWTH

Marine and maritime research for Blue Growth are implemented through a strategic and coordinated approach across all challenges and priorities of Horizon 2020. It aims at unlocking the potential of resources from seas, oceans and inland waters for different uses and across the range of marine and maritime industries, while protecting the environment and adapting to climate change. Blue Growth is supporting sustainable growth in the marine and maritime sectors, through sustainable exploitation of marine resources for healthy, productive, safe, secure and resilient seas and oceans. The coordinated approach will involve not only the Blue Growth Call of Horizon 2020 Societal Challenge 2, but also relevant topics from other parts of Horizon 2020, such as other Societal Challenges and Leadership in Enabling and Industrial Technologies, which will be interlinked through a flagging system.

MARKET CREATING INNOVATION

A major new component to be piloted in Horizon 2020 focuses on support for innovative firms and entrepreneurs with the potential to scale up rapidly at the European and global levels.

This new approach brings together instruments - SME instrument, prizes, FET-Open, Fast Track to Innovation - which can deliver breakthrough innovations and close to market solutions. Further changes include making the SME instrument fully 'bottom up' so that innovative projects that cut across sectors and technologies can be supported. Moreover Horizon 2020 aims to better use of inducement prizes to deliver breakthrough technology solutions. The Commission is seeking also to provide simpler access to EU innovation support and ensure that the evaluation process targets innovations with the potential to create and capture new markets. These actions constitute the pilot phase of the European Innovation Council.

SMART CITIES

Innovative solutions for inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities are also a cross-cutting concern. These are addressed under areas such as governance, planning, citizen engagement, boosting equal opportunities, promoting social integration and community building.

Sustainable development of urban areas is a challenge of key importance. It requires new, efficient, and user-friendly technologies and services, in particular in the areas of energy, transport and ICT. However, these solutions need integrated approaches, both in terms of research and development of advanced technological solutions, as well as deployment.

HEALTH

Research and innovation initiatives concerning health and supported by Horizon 2020 are an investment in better wellbeing for all. The relative calls aim to improve our understanding of the causes and mechanisms underlying health, healthy ageing and disease; improve our ability to monitor health and to prevent, detect, treat and manage disease; support older persons to remain active and healthy; test and demonstrate new models and tools for health and care delivery; and contributes to the sustainability of health and care systems.