Pillar 2
Pillar 2 is the location for many of the collaborative research projects, funded via six Clusters each with calls for proposals, which have been co-designed with multiple stakeholders.
Through the Horizon Europe strategic plan, coordinated investments are directed to tackle key global challenges such as:
- the green transition (including related topics on climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity, and making Europe climate neutral by 2050)
- building a more resilient, competitive, democratic and inclusive Europe
- the digital transition (core digital technologies, competitiveness, human-centred developments)
- health threats
- an ageing population
Horizon Europe also seeks to respond flexibly to escalating challenges such as the increased pace of climate change, and unstable geopolitical situations (posing increased civil security, fair democracy and supply chain challenges worldwide) are likely to feature in forthcoming work programmes for 2025-2027, along with greater integration and cross-disciplinary research across these themes. For example the role of digital technologies in making the economy/business more resource efficient, less polluting, circular and climate neutral.
Clusters
Cluster 1 aims to improve human health and well-being and make healthcare systems more inclusive, accessible, sustainable and resilient to cross-border health threats, demographic change and the impacts of climate change and environmental challenges.
Digitalisation and new digital technologies are key to responding to these challenges, with the aim of increasing the resilience and long-term sustainability of healthcare systems. One overarching theme is research to promote health equity and ensure fair and equal access to affordable healthcare.
Cluster 1 also strengthens Europe’s ability to prevent, detect and rapidly respond to cross-border health emergencies by supporting the development of effective, safe and affordable medical countermeasures.
Cluster 2 aims to make Europe more socially resilient, competitive, inclusive and democratic. Funding supports interdisciplinary approaches to strengthen democracy, increase democratic participation, and protect fundamental rights and the rule of law.
Research aims to produce evidence-based strategies to manage demographic change, mobility, migration and the inclusion of refugees in society. Activities help tackle polarisation and political extremism, and build trust in democratic governance. Funding is also available to address socioeconomic challenges caused by environmental crises.
In relation to the digital transition, research investigates the impact of digital developments on democracy, culture and society with the aim of achieving fair and inclusive development, and anticipating possible consequences, including addressing needs and concerns about AI.
Cluster 3 aims to increase:
- civil security for society
- supporting the prevention of preparedness for and resilience to a wide range of threats to internal security and infrastructure
- security of individuals
- security of society as a whole
Research spans the resilience of critical infrastructures to impacts of climate change, disaster preparedness, tackling terrorism and (organised) crime, and an increasing focus on digital security.
Cluster 4 aims to strengthen Europe’s technological competitiveness and to support the transformation of its industries towards net-zero emissions.
Funded projects involve advancing manufacturing technologies so that they can play a key role in achieving carbon neutrality, circularity, zero pollution ambition and renewable energy and economies. Energy-intensive industrial sectors are supported to adopt climate-neutral and energy-efficient solutions, encouraging investment in net-zero technology.
Cluster 4 also features research on digital and key enabling technologies, better understanding of the impacts of digitisation, including research to promote a trustworthy data economy for public and commercial use and a manufacturing industry equipped with adaptable digital tools to increase supply chain resilience. Research on reducing dependence on critical raw materials is likely to continue throughout Horizon Europe, as is research on digital, space and satellite technologies.
Research in Cluster 5 is key to making Europe resilient to climate change and to enabling the necessary shift in the energy and mobility sectors towards climate neutrality, taking into account their impact on society and the environment. Based on a better understanding of behaviour and interdisciplinary knowledge about developing climate patterns, adaptation, and mitigation pathways,
Cluster 5 supports changes in structures, practices and behaviour, advanced net-zero technologies, and innovative solutions for transitioning to low- or zero-emission energy and mobility systems. Research includes digital transformations, plus energy and transport futures. For example, improving climate models plus future transport via connected, cooperative and automated systems.
Cross-cutting research on democratic engagement (and co-production) is crucial for ensuring that changes will be fair, safe and sustainable. Holistic approaches are encouraged to increase understanding of interactions with other policy objectives, minimising trade-offs and strengthening synergies.
Cluster 6 supports the Green Transition, fosters the bioeconomy, supports value chains in bio-based sectors, circular economy research, climate change mitigation and adaptation, plus building back biodiversity. One area of focus is the transition to sustainable, low-footprint and inclusive agriculture and food systems, to provide safe, nutritious, healthy and affordable food for everyone.
Research includes making agriculture and food systems sustainable and climate-resilient, managing natural resources efficiently, reducing food loss and waste, increasing agrobiodiversity and improving the health and welfare of animals, plant and soil health.
The cluster fosters the bioeconomy and bio-based systems to replace carbon intensive and fossil-based ones, increases stakeholder participation along the value chains, and brings resilience to rural and coastal communities. Research aims to help create a toxic-free environment where water, air and soil pollution are reduced to levels which are no longer considered harmful to health and natural ecosystems. The themes of equitable governance models and digital transformations also run through Cluster 6.