<p>&nbsp;</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="/sites/default/files/content/europa.jpg" width="265" height="131" /></p> <p><strong><span style="font-size: medium;">Horizon 2020 launched with €15 billion over first two years</span></strong></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: small; line-height: 1.5em;">The European Commission has today for the first time presented calls for projects under Horizon 2020, the European Union's €80 billion research and innovation programme. Worth more than €15 billion over the first two years, the funding is intended to help boost Europe's knowledge-driven economy, and tackle issues that will make a difference in people's lives.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-size: small;">European Research, Innovation and Science Commissioner Máire Geoghegan-Quinn said: <em>"It's time to get down to business. Horizon 2020 funding is vital for the future of research and innovation in Europe, and will contribute to growth, jobs and a better quality of life. We have designed Horizon 2020 to produce results, and we have slashed red tape to make it easier to participate. So I am calling on researchers, universities, businesses including SMEs, and others to sign up!"</em></span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 19.5px; font-size: small;">For the first time, the Commission has indicated funding priorities over two years, providing researchers and businesses with more certainty than ever before on the direction of EU research policy. Most calls from the 2014 budget are already open for submissions as of today, with more to follow over the course of the year.</span></p>