The Horizon 2020 programme, the new framework programme for research and innovation, approved at the end of 2013, is the new vehicle to promote high quality interdisciplinary research proposals for the programming period 2014-2020. The aim of the Programme is to cover the full cycle of research and innovation, from basic research and demonstration projects up to the entry of a new product or service to the marketplace.

In addition, it supports all kinds of organizations (industry, research institutes, universities, SMEs, etc.). With simplified administrative procedures and funding that can reach 125%, Horizon 2020 has a budget of €79 billion and constitutes the largest and most ambitious research and development programme that the European Union has ever seen. The program is structured in three pillars (priorities): scientific excellence, Industrial Leadership and Societal Challenges, while each priority is divided into sub-programmes which specify the nature of the expected results. The objectives of the programme are:

• the creation of new jobs,
• solving social problems of society (environment, safety)The crisis confrontation,
• strengthening the global EU positions in research, innovation, technology. 

The process of searching for calls, finding partners, submitting proposals is totally supported by the Participant Portal, a fully usable and functional tool for stakeholders. 

The Programme is generally open both in Member States and in third countries and the proposals are evaluated in terms of the following criteria: excellence, project management plan and the impact of the project (at local, national and European level).

Find more at http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/home.html