Horizon Europe 2024: Top-Funded Projects Powering Innovation

The Horizon Europe programme, the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme, has kicked off 2024 with a wave of ambitious projects. These projects, selected through a rigorous evaluation process, are set to shape the future of science, technology, and society. Let’s delve into some of the top-funded projects that have secured significant funding in 2024.

A Glimpse into Horizon Europe’s 2024 Funding Landscape

With a total of 15,487 projects and €46.56 billion in funding, Horizon Europe 2024 is a powerhouse of innovation. Among the diverse range of projects, several stand out due to their groundbreaking nature and substantial funding.

Horizon Europe 2024: Top-Funded Projects

Excellennt Science

European Research Council (ERC)

• TransFORM: This project aims to revolutionize our understanding of cellular biology by studying how ribosomes function within cells. With a grant of €13.998.670, TransFORM seeks to develop innovative techniques for in-cell structural biology.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

• GROW: This PhD programme supports 51 talented researchers from around the world to tackle global challenges, particularly in collaboration with Africa. With a grant of €6.854.400, GROW fosters interdisciplinary research and promotes sustainable development.

Research Infrastructures

• EBRAINS 2.0: Building upon the success of the Human Brain Project, EBRAINS 2.0 aims to advance neuroscience and brain health research. This ambitious project has secured €37.995.203 in funding to develop cutting-edge tools and resources.

Global Challenges

Civil Security for Society

• SafeTravellers: Identity theft is a growing global issue, particularly in the EU, where criminals exploit vulnerabilities in identity and travel documents to facilitate fraud and transnational crime. SafeTravellers offers an innovative, GDPR-compliant solution using multi-biometric identification and privacy-preserving mechanisms to enhance border security, combat identity fraud, and ensure seamless border crossings. Funding: €6.081.079.

Climate, Energy, and Mobility

• FAME: This project aims to develop a hydrogen fuel cell propulsion system for aircraft, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation industry. With a grant of €34.993.248, FAME is poised to revolutionize sustainable aviation.

Culture, Creativity, and Inclusive Society

• ECHOES: ECHOES aims to establish the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage (ECCCH), a shared platform enabling heritage professionals to access data, digital tools, and resources while fostering collaboration across disciplines. Anchored in Open Science principles, ECHOES envisions a paradigm shift by creating semantically rich Digital Commons and a sustainable, inclusive platform to integrate and democratize cultural heritage knowledge for future generations. Funding: €23.970.598.

Digital, Industry, and Space

• NGI0 Commons Fund: This project aims to advance the Next Generation Internet (NGI) by developing a technology stack that prioritizes human values and democratic principles. With a grant of €26.999.931, NGI0 Commons Fund seeks to create a more open, secure, and sustainable digital future.

Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment

• AGROECOLOGY: This European partnership aims to accelerate the transition to sustainable farming systems through agroecological practices. With a grant of €60.000.000, AGROECOLOGY supports research, innovation, and farmer-led initiatives to address climate change and food security.

Health

• ERDERA: This project aims to improve the lives of people living with rare diseases by advancing research and innovation. With a grant of €56.317.413, ERDERA brings together researchers, clinicians, and patient organizations to accelerate the development of new treatments and therapies.

Non-nuclear direct actions of the Joint Research Centre (JRC)

• Path4Med aims to achieve zero water and soil pollution in the Mediterranean and other European seas by advancing sustainable agricultural practices, innovative monitoring technologies, and inclusive citizen engagement. Grant: €8.059.323.

Innovative Europe

European Innovation ecosystems

• Women TechEU: This initiative aims to address the gender gap in entrepreneurship by supporting women-led deep tech startups. With a grant of €15.000.000, Women TechEU empowers women to drive innovation and economic growth.

The European Innovation council (EIC)

• NuCapCure: NuCapCure aims to revolutionize treatment for deep-lying cancers like glioblastoma by developing two novel therapies combining advanced radiotherapy and photodynamic techniques. Leveraging intracellular biosynthesis to produce custom compounds, the project integrates expertise across disciplines to create targeted, curative solutions for currently incurable cancers. Grant: €5.972.876.

Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area

Reforming and enhancing the European R&I System

• Precilience: This project aims to enhance climate resilience in the European boreal regions by developing tailored solutions for agriculture and forestry. With a grant of €9.999.999, Precilience supports sustainable and resilient land use practices.

Widening participation and spreading excellence

• LignoSilva: This project aims to upgrade the Centre of Excellence LignoSilva in Slovakia to enhance research excellence and drive innovation in the forest-based sector. With a grant of €14.710.000, LignoSilva seeks to strengthen Slovakia’s position as a leader in sustainable forest-based industries.

These are just a few examples of the many exciting projects funded by Horizon Europe in 2024. As the programme continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more groundbreaking innovations emerge in the years to come.

Stay tuned for more updates on Horizon Europe and its impact on innovation!