Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless announced today that Ireland has officially surpassed the €1 billion mark in funding secured from the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - Horizon Europe.
With a national target of €1.5 billion (1.6%) of Horizon Europe’s €95.5 billion budget from 2021-2027, Ireland is firmly on track to meet and likely exceed the target set in Impact
2030. To date, Irish organisations have been awarded €1.02 billion which equates to 2.09% of the €49 billion awarded so far, showing that Ireland is tracking ahead of its target.This funding to Irish Higher Education Institutions, research organisations and companies facilitates excellent and impactful research and innovation as well as important transnational collaboration with stakeholders across the European Union and beyond. Core and competitive funding provided by the Higher Education Authority and Research Ireland respectively are key enablers of success for Irish researchers and innovators in Horizon Europe.
Irish institutions are supported by the Horizon Europe National Support Network, comprised of 32 National Contact Points and National Delegates drawn from 10 Irish research and innovation-active agencies. This network of experts assists researchers and innovators develop proposals to secure competitive awards and increase Ireland’s research and innovation footprint on a European and global scale.
Speaking today, Minister Lawless said:
“Reaching €1 billion in Horizon Europe funding is a significant achievement for Ireland and a clear endorsement of the world-class talent within our research and innovation community. This achievement demonstrates that Ireland is not just competing but is a strong innovator on the European stage.
"Irish researchers’ work includes the ongoing development of a new type of bio-based artificial lung to support patients as they await transplant and a project that looked at ways to reduce underwater radiated noise to help protect the marine life so vital to our island.
"Horizon Europe funding facilitates individual research excellence and also transnational collaboration with researchers and innovators across Europe and beyond.
"I highlight the importance of the support of the National Support Network and encourage our research and innovation stakeholders to continue to build on their success - driving discovery, fostering innovation, and ensuring that research delivers real benefits for society, the economy, and our shared future in Europe."
Enterprise Ireland, which leads the Horizon Europe National Support Network, praised the achievement as a reflection of Ireland’s strategic investment in innovation and international partnerships.
Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland added:
"Enterprise Ireland welcomes this milestone achievement bringing Ireland’s accumulated funding approvals to €1 billion since the introduction of the Horizon Europe programme in 2021and clearly reinforces the level of innovation and ingenuity emerging from our small open economy. Ireland’s overall success in the Horizon Europe programme, supported by Enterprise Ireland in our National Contact Point capacity, shines a spotlight on the innovation and capability of our companies to compete on a global level and this funding provides the critical support required to enable these innovative companies to develop and scale their businesses."
Notes
Horizon Europe is structured across three pillars which award competitive funding based on excellence. The Pillars are: Pillar 1 – Excellent Science (€312 million secured); Pillar 2 – Global Challenges (€577 million secured); and European Industrial Competitiveness; Pillar 3 – Innovative Europe (€118 million secured).
Ireland performs well in all three programme pillars. Pillar 1 facilitates world-class researchers securing prestigious bottom-up, researcher-led projects as part of European Research Council (ERC) awards (€159 million) and early career talent supported programmes through Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (€133 million).
Pillar 2 receives most Horizon Europe funding and focuses on tackling global and societal challenges. This also supports transnational R&I collaboration across the EU and with countries associated to the Programme. Ireland has excelled particularly in Health (€99 million), Digital Technologies (€166 million), Agriculture-Environmental (€136 million) and Climate, Energy and Mobility (€115 million) with widespread engagement in EU partnerships.
Pillar 3 has been a notable success for Irish small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which have attracted €118 million, through European Innovation ecosystems and European Innovation Council grants, with additional equity finance to come.
Noteworthy drawdowns under Horizon Europe include:
- Digital, Industry & Space – €166 million
- European Research Council grants – €159 million
- Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment – €136 million
- Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions - €133 million
Ireland’s higher education institutions have received the largest share of funding from the Framework Programme, representing 58% of total participation. Also significant is that almost half of participating organisations are Irish SMEs with 245 companies securing more than €267 million, maintaining Ireland’s high ranking in SME participation across the EU.
Horizon Europe also supports and facilitates collaboration with other leading European R&I organisations, ensuring Irish stakeholders work alongside and compete against world-class researchers and innovators. Ireland is a trusted collaborator on international projects. Ireland’s current most frequent collaborators are Spain (3,718), Germany (3,001), Italy (2,872) and France (2,600).
Selected Horizon Europe Projects
SATURN – Solutions @ Underwater Radiated Noise (Completed)
University College Cork led a project focused on learning how noise from ships and boats affects sea animals and finding ways to reduce that impact. Experts from different fields worked together to figure out which underwater sounds are most harmful, how to measure them, and what can be done to make the oceans quieter. This work helps Ireland protect its marine life and habitats while staying committed to caring for the environment.
ROSIA – Remote Rehabilitation Service for Isolated Areas
The National Rehabilitation Hospital is running a project that aims to use technology to help people who have had a stroke or other serious illness manage their own recovery at home while staying in touch with their doctors and therapists. This approach is to make it easier for people in rural or remote areas to get the care they need without always having to travel to a hospital. By supporting home-based rehabilitation, the project could help patients regain independence while also easing pressure on the healthcare system.
CellMembrane - Development of delignified nanocellulose based gas transfer scaffold membrane for artificial lung applications
Smart Reactors Ireland, working with the University of Galway and international partners, is developing a new type of artificial lung made from bio-based materials. This device is designed to support patients with severe lung disease while they wait for a transplant, a process that can often take a long time due to a shortage of donors. Current artificial lungs can only be used for short periods because of complications, but this new approach aims to make them safer and more effective for longer use. If successful, it could give patients in Ireland and worldwide a much better chance of recovery and a higher quality of life while waiting for a transplant.
CULTIVATE - Co-Designing food sharing innovation for reslience
Trinity College, together with Dublin City University, Dublin City Council, FoodCloud, and international partners, is working on a project to make food sharing more sustainable and effective. They have created an online platform called the Food Sharing Compass, which offers free tools and resources to help communities share food in smarter, greener ways. Food waste is a major global issue, with big environmental, social, and financial impacts. In 2023, Ireland alone produced about 835,000 tonnes of food waste, adding to greenhouse gas emissions and increasing costs for families. This project aims to cut down on food waste, fight hunger, and build stronger, more connected communities.
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