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Horizon 2020 – Ireland’s Gateway to European Research Funding

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Horizon 2020 was the European Union’s biggest research and innovation funding programme. It ran from 2014 to 2020 with a total budget of around €80 billion. The programme was open to researchers, companies, universities and other organisations across Europe. For Ireland, Horizon 2020 was a major success story.

What Was Horizon 2020?

Horizon 2020 was the eighth EU framework programme for research and innovation. It was built around three main pillars:

  • Excellent Science – supporting top-quality research and strengthening Europe’s science base
  • Industrial Leadership – helping businesses develop new technologies and grow
  • Societal Challenges – addressing big issues like climate change, health and energy

The programme funded projects across many areas – from health and food safety to marine energy and digital technology. Funding was given as grants, and organisations had to apply in competition with others from across Europe.

Ireland’s Performance in Horizon 2020

Ireland did exceptionally well in Horizon 2020. By the end of the programme, Irish organisations had secured a total of €1.21 billion in funding. This funding went to more than 2,700 Irish organisations, including universities, research institutes and small and medium-sized businesses.

Irish small businesses (SMEs) alone secured over €300 million. The Irish government had set an ambitious target of €1.25 billion for the programme, and Ireland came very close to reaching that goal.

Some of the key areas of success included:

  • European Research Council (ERC) – Irish researchers secured over €135 million. This funding supports top researchers at different stages of their careers. By the end of Horizon 2020, Ireland had secured €142.5 million from the ERC – well above its original target of €100 million.
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) – Irish researchers received more than €176 million through this programme. These actions support researchers at all career stages and help them move between countries and sectors.
  • SME Instrument – This part of Horizon 2020 was designed for small businesses. Irish companies had a 13% success rate in one round of funding, compared to the European average of 5.5%. Irish SMEs were not only winning more often – they were also going for larger amounts of money.

Real Examples of Irish Success

Many Irish companies and researchers won Horizon 2020 funding for innovative projects.

Marine and energy projects: Several Irish marine businesses won funding to develop new technologies. OpenHydro Group Ltd received €2.9 million to work on tidal energy. EireComposites secured €2.7 million for offshore wind and tidal turbine projects. Brandon Products Ltd received funding for a seaweed-based bio-oil project.

Small businesses across Ireland: Nine Irish small companies each received €50,000 in phase one funding to develop business ideas. These included:

  • Milis Bio in Cork – developing a sweet protein for food flavouring
  • Sothic Bioscience in Cork – working on medical testing technology
  • BioProbe Diagnostics in Waterford – developing water safety testing
  • Toggam Enterprises in Meath – developing insect-based protein for fish feed

University research: University College Dublin led a €2.1 million project to train researchers on climate change and food safety. Trinity College Dublin researchers won an ERC Synergy Grant – the first for Ireland – to study marine life and human societies over the past 2,000 years.

How Ireland Made It Happen

Ireland had a strong support system to help organisations apply for Horizon 2020 funding. Enterprise Ireland led the national support network, which included nine member organisations. These included government departments, research bodies and agencies like the Marine Institute, the Health Research Board and Science Foundation Ireland.

The network provided advice on funding opportunities, helped with proposal preparation and gave guidance on contracts and intellectual property. This support made a real difference – Ireland won far more funding than its share of the EU budget would suggest.

What Came Next

Horizon 2020 ended in 2020 and was replaced by Horizon Europe, which runs from 2021 to 2027. Horizon Europe has an even bigger budget of over €95 billion. Between 2021 and 2024, Irish organisations had already secured €836 million from Horizon Europe. This shows that Ireland is continuing to build on its success.

Why It Mattered for Ireland

Horizon 2020 brought more than just money to Ireland. It helped Irish researchers and companies build networks across Europe. It supported new discoveries and innovations. It gave small businesses a chance to grow and compete internationally. And it helped Irish universities and research institutes attract and keep top talent.

For a small country on the edge of Europe, Horizon 2020 was a way to compete on equal terms with larger nations. Irish organisations proved they could win funding based on quality and excellence. That success has continued into Horizon Europe, and it gives Ireland a strong foundation for the future.