EU's Horizon 2020 moving forward

Horizon 2020, the EU research and innovation program for 2014-20, is on its way to being finalized after negotiators reached a deal on a package of laws to establish the program. According to a spokesperson for the European Parliament, Horizon 2020's budget has not yet been finalized but will be about EUR 70 billion ($91.7 billion) instead of the proposed EUR 80 billion ($104.8 billion) due to overall spending cuts in the EU.

The deal earmarks about 4% of the overall budget for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The spokesperson said the deal also includes a provision that would make it mandatory to provide open access to scientific publications resulting from research supported by the program (see BioCentury Extra, Nov. 30, 2011). ...