Horizon Europe is the EU's Research and Innovation programme. It tackles climate change, helps to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and boosts the EU’s competitiveness and growth. The programme facilitates collaboration and strengthens the impact of research and innovation in developing, supporting and implementing EU policies while tackling global challenges.
There are three 'pillars' under the Horizon Europe programme: Pillar I – Excellent Science, Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, Pillar III – Innovative Europe. Most projects relevant to disaster risk management are financed under Pillar II which is divided into six clusters:
Additionally, five EU Missions serve as large-scale initiatives under Horizon Europe, setting clear, time-bound goals that drive focused efforts towards some of our greatest challenges:
Examples of areas of support relevant for disaster risk management under Pillar II include the following:
Cluster 3 on ‘Civil Security for Society’ includes research and innovation actions to help fight crime and terrorism (including organised crime and cybercrime), border management (including customs security and maritime security), resilient infrastructure, cybersecurity (including security of network and information systems and certification) and disaster-resilient societies (including against chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incidents; human-made disasters or climate-related risks and extreme events; geological disasters, such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and tsunamis; pandemics, as well as improved disaster risk governance, incorporating enhanced multi-hazard early-warning systems, integrated risk and crisis communication frameworks, community-centred resilience strategies, cross-border coordination mechanisms, the deployment of advanced forecasting and monitoring technologies, and the strengthening of societal preparedness through training, education, and participatory planning).
This approach contributes to all the phases of Disaster risk Management, from prevention, preparedness to mitigation, response, deployment of countermeasures and recovery, using updated risk assessment methods and decision criteria, and including knowledge transfer and awareness of innovative solutions from international to regional and/or local levels.
Cluster 5 on ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’ includes climate science and solutions; energy supply, energy systems and grids, buildings and industrial facilities in energy transition, communities and cities; multimodal transport and logistics; transport safety and resilience.
Examples of actions covered under this cluster include 'Attribution to climate change, and improved forecasting of extreme and slow-onset climate- and weather-related events and their impacts' and 'Adaptation to Climate Change: Effectiveness and Limits'. Strong links exist between activities in Cluster 5 with activities funded under Cluster 6 on climate-ocean-polar-cryosphere nexus, and in Cluster 3 on disaster risk reduction, and with the Mission on Adaptation to Climate Change.
Cluster 6 on ‘Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment’ will contribute to the objectives of the European Green Deal related to the Biodiversity Strategy to 2030, the Farm to Fork strategy, and the European Climate Pact and initiatives under sustainable industry and eliminating pollution, as well as the long-term vision for rural areas, and the Sustainable Development Goals.
The EU Mission Adaptation to Climate Change aims to support at least 150 European regions and communities towards climate resilience by 2030. It focuses on helping these regions and local authorities to 1) Understand climate risks: Identify current and future climate-related challenges specific to their areas, 2) Develop adaptation pathways: Create strategic plans to prepare for and manage the impacts of a changing climate and 3) Implement innovative solutions: Deploy practical measures and technologies to enhance resilience on the ground.
Horizon Europe is launched by the Directorate General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD, European Commission), with various Directorates General actively involved in shaping, coordinating, and implementing different parts of the programme
National contact points are selected in all beneficiary countries.
The Horizon Europe programme provides grants, as well as other types of funding, such as procurement, financial instruments, etc.
EU Member States and associated countries.
This programme provides financial support to legal entities (including public authorities - national, regional, local- private entities and universities).
For information on how to apply, please check the call specific page:
Programme website: Horizon Europe - European Commission
Examples of Horizon Europe-funded projects with disaster risk management relevance include the CARMA project (under Pillar II, Cluster 3 – Civil Security for Society), which aims to co-create a platform offering a complementary set of semi-autonomous and autonomous unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) capable of working in symbiosis with humans to support and supplement first responders and assist citizens in a wide range of disaster situations, including those with very low visibility. Funded with EUR 4 million over three years, the project is run by 12 partners from 6 countries.
Resilience is a major challenge for the EU transport system, considering the rise in complexity and interconnection in transport to address demand, efficiency and sustainability objectives, and the potential increase in frequency and intensity of disruptions. Horizon Europe R&I projects engage in the various aspects of transport resilience. The solutions examined range from technical to strategic, and there are common patterns across transport modes. These common patterns include, for technical solutions, the detection and monitoring techniques, and the use of ICT and AI as enablers for resilience management and timely reaction to disruptions. For strategic and tactical solutions, projects develop resilience management and decision-making frameworks. Examples of transport projects are available through this link: Featured Projects - European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency
Under the Mission Adaptation to Climate Change, the CLIMAAX project involves 19 partners working together to contribute to the harmonisation and consolidation of the practice of climate risk assessment. The project brings existing tools and services beyond state-of-the-art by prioritising the further development of accessibility, guidance, tuning to local contexts, interpretation and uptake by representative Disaster Risk Management and Civil Protection authorities. Five regional Climate Risk Assessment pilots have been executed to co-design the CLIMAAX Framework and Toolbox in Finland, Latvia, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain.