06.01.2022
EUROPEAN DIRECT FINANCING PROGRAMS IN 2022
Record funding from the EU budget for 2022 makes the year crucial for the recovery of economies after covid, as well as for their transition to green and digital transformation. To achieve these goals, businesses, the public and non-governmental sectors will be able to benefit from a huge number of programs in 2022 directly to the EU.
Here you will see the first part of them:
The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) supports the EU's objectives in transport, energy and digital technologies by enabling or accelerating investment in projects of common interest and supporting cross-border cooperation.
Digital priorities include providing gigabit connectivity for socio-economic drivers such as hospitals, schools and research centers, wireless connectivity with local communities and more. Margrethe Vestager, Commissioner for Digitalisation, said: "Investing in cross-border connectivity will continue to play a key role in transforming Europe's competitiveness and improving it. Improving networks and infrastructure will ensure that Europe's citizens and businesses have access to new jobs, compete in new markets and strengthen their activities."
In the transport sector, CEF is committed to implementing TEN-T (Trans-European Transport Network) and supporting investment in cross-border connections, missing links, as well as promoting sustainability and digitalisation.
The energy part of the budget should be dedicated to the transition to clean energy and a more connected, smarter and digitalised EU energy system. Most of the funds should be allocated to cross-border projects.
The budget for 2021-2027 amounts to EUR 21.4 billion for transport (of which EUR 10 billion will be allocated from the Cohesion Funds); 5.2 billion euros for energy; € 1.8 billion for digital technologies.
Currently announced for the following calls: proposals to promote regional cooperation for a sustainable blue economy (deadline 12 January); CEF Transport (until January 19); Preparatory studies for cross-border renewable energy projects (until 1 February); Innovation Fund second large-scale call for projects (until March 3); CISE incident warning system (until April 7), etc.
Apply here.
Digital Europe is the new European program focused on building the EU's strategic digital capacity and facilitating the widespread deployment of digital technologies. It will fund investment in technology, but also its widespread use among citizens, businesses and public administrations, including through the development of digital skills.
Key areas for the 2021-2022 work program include artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, advanced computing, data infrastructure, management and processing, and their deployment and best use for critical sectors such as energy and the environment, manufacturing, agriculture and healthcare.
Budget: 2021 - 2027 7.5 billion euros. Co-financing rate: up to 100%
On 17 November 2021, the European Commission launched the first set of calls for proposals focusing on digital technologies, cybersecurity and digital innovation and application centers. EUR 415 million is expected to be invested in European cloud infrastructure, and another EUR 43 million in grants will be invested in strengthening cybersecurity in the health sector.
Specialized master's and educational programs in key areas, including AI, data, cybersecurity, quantum and high-performance computing, will be open to applications; Analysis of advanced digital skills: Preparatory actions for the data space for skills: creating a common, universal European data space and ensuring secure access to and storage of large data sets through energy efficient cloud structures. More information and application here.
Erasmus+ will continue to cover schools, vocational education and training, higher education and adult, youth and sport education. Opportunities for students in higher or vocational education to have experience outside Europe will be expanded. Erasmus + also needs to improve coverage and inclusion through new formats such as virtual exchanges and shorter study periods abroad.
The Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Maria Gabriel, said: "In 2022, Erasmus + marks 35 years of successfully providing opportunities for people to study and gain experience studying abroad. We want to enable more people to take part and take advantage of what Erasmus+ has to offer. We will also celebrate the European Year of Youth in 2022 and Erasmus+ will play a central role."
The budget for 2021-2027 amounts to 26 billion euros, of which 3.9 billion euros for 2022.
A guide to the program can be found here, and the application is here.
The Creative Europe program focuses on cooperation in the field of:
Funding includes cooperation projects, networks, platforms, mobility for artists and cultural professionals and policy development.
Sectoral support: support for music, publishing, cultural heritage and architecture, as well as other sectors.
Special actions: EU Cultural Awards, European Capitals of Culture, European Heritage Label, support for young high-quality artists and a wide range of citizen services.
Budget: 2021 - 2027: 2.4 billion euros. Co-financing rates: 80% for small cooperation projects; 60% co-financing for medium-range cooperation (new category); 50% for large cooperation projects.
Handbook and application here.
EU4Health is the EU's response to COVID-19, which has had a major impact on medical and healthcare staff, patients and healthcare systems in Europe. Funding is for EU countries, health organizations and non-governmental organizations in order to:
Budget: 2021 - 2027: 5.1 billion euros
Currently open grant programs include: Grants to support the implementation of best practices to address mental health challenges during COVID-19; support for actions to improve access to vaccination against human papillomavirus; "Capacity and mapping capacity for cancer treatment in the EU" - a network of comprehensive oncology centers, with a deadline of 25 January 2022.
Grants to support the accreditation and certification of quality assurance schemes for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer screening programs with a deadline of 17 February 2022.
More information and application here.
LIFE+ is an EU financial instrument supporting projects for action on the environment, nature conservation and climate across the EU. Budget: MFF 2021-2027: € 5.432 billion
Maximum co-financing rates are foreseen:
For 2022 are provided:
More information and application here.
Horizon Europe is the world's largest research and innovation program. Horizon Europe replaces Horizon 2020. It consists of 3 pillars: excellent science; global challenges and European industrial competitiveness; innovative Europe. A cross-sectoral element also aims to increase participation and strengthen the European Research Area.
The second and third pillars are the most accessible for the Bulgarian reality. The second pillar has a focus: healthcare; culture, creativity and inclusive society; civil security for society; digital, industrial and space; climate energy and mobility; food bioeconomics; natural resources, agriculture and the environment). The third pillar includes, for the first time, a section on European innovation ecosystems aimed at streamlining international, national and local innovation programs to stimulate innovation in public services and to provide market opportunities for European innovators. In particular, the Innovation Procurement Instruments (PPIs) and the Public Sector Innovation Observatory could be of importance to local authorities.
Budget for 2021 - 2027: 90.1 billion euros NGEU: 5.4 billion euros.
The planned calls for projects for 2022 can be found here, and the application is done here.
