Our 2022 statistics report on H2020 is out!

The 2022 statistics report on Brussels-Capital Region’s participation in Horizon 2020 has just been published

Brussels-based entities benefited from more than €1.3 billion in 7 years under the European H2020 programme. The mission of this European Union research and innovation funding programme (2014 – 2020) was to support projects promoting scientific excellence, industrial leadership and societal challenges. Three priorities Brussels actors excel at.

Key figures

• 2,665 funded projects, from 785 Brussels beneficiaries (= 45% of all Belgian beneficiaries)
• Total funding of €1.315 billion, representing 38% of the amount granted to Belgium
• An average success rate of 20% for research or innovation project proposals involving Brussels entities (compared to 17% for Belgium and 12% for the programme as a whole)
• An average funding amount of €348,096 towards Brussels beneficiaries
• Main beneficiaries: international organisations (53% of the funding allocated to Brussels actors), universities (15%), SMEs (9%), research centres (8%), large companies (6%) and the public sector (6%)

Read the full statistics report in Dutch, English, or French.

Brussels, a master in the art of consortium

Most opportunities are taken up by international consortia, as being part of a consortium is a requirement in most H2020 calls for proposals. This approach allows SMEs to collaborate with cross-border, cross-sectoral and cross-disciplinary teams. In doing so, they benefit from high-level academic research but also from manufacturers or public players’ participation, opening the way to long-term collaborations on several target markets.

Brussels success stories

Brussels actors distinguished themselves in collaboration with organisations from all sectors and disciplines, from Europe and third countries, reflecting the openness of H2020 to the world.

• A few examples: SMEs such as 3E, StratejAI, Usitoo, public actors such as STIB, Innoviris, hub.brussels or the city of Brussels, and large companies such as SABCA, Brussels Airport or Solvay
• The VUB and the ULB received €106.36 million and €69.15 million in grants respectively under Horizon 2020. They are the highest-funded Brussels-based actors, with a participation in 200 and 131 projects respectively
• Meoh ASBL took part in a large research infrastructure project within a 24-partner consortium coordinated by the CNRS (FR). The EU contribution for this project amounted to €5.6 million, with €146.000 to fund Meoh’s activities

EIC Accelerator: the holy grail for SMEs

Several Brussels-based companies also managed to obtain funding from the highly competitive Accelerator of the European Innovation Council. A few examples:

• Biotech company Fyteko, which received nearly €2 million to accelerate the development of its biostimulant improving plant resistance to climate change and speed up its entry into the European market
• MoveUp, which developed the first health app reimbursed (temporarily) by the NAMI/RIZIV, and received €1.7 million in grant and €1 million in capital, to accelerate the development of its application in Europe and the US

These figures show Brussels actors’s success and commitment within the H2020 framework programme and are taken from the final report on the H2020 programme (French version already available – Dutch and English versions will follow soon).

Don’t hesitate to contact us for any questions.