Horizon Europe 2028-2034: The new features planned by the European Commission in the MFF proposal

The European Commission is granting €31.5 Bn to the ERC (+97%), €10 Bn to the MSCA (+54%), and €34.5 Bn (+245%) to the EIC as part of its proposal for Horizon Europe 2028-2034 in the MFF, a European Commission official tells News Tank on 18/07/2025.

He notes that the doubling of budget in Pilar I, dedicated to Excellent science (ERC and MSCA in particular), reflects the Commission's desire to show that Choose Europe is one of its priorities.

This new programme, with a budget of €175 Bn (+87%), introduces several new features. In particular, it reflects the European Commission's desire to simplify:
• applications (reduce burden in application phase, simplify rules, lump sum by default),
• partnerships (from 120 in Horizon 2020 to 60 in the current programme—aim for fewer in the next one).

FP10 will also be able to finance up to 20% of research infrastructure construction.

Regarding the widening countries, the Commission suggests that a distinction be made between two categories of Member States, based on innovation scoreboards and programme success rates:

• Widening countries: access…