09/05/2020
EU research and innovation programmes
in the fight against coronavirus
As part of the common European response to the coronavirus outbreak, the European Commission has
mobilised €1 billion under Horizon 2020, and launched several special actions to tackle the coronavirus
pandemic in Europe and abroad. These actions address, inter alia, the development of diagnostics, treatments
and vaccines, and the enhancement of infrastructures and resources that enable research. The European
Research Area’s action plan prioritises mainly better cooperation, data-sharing, and funding efforts.
Measures under Horizon 2020
Horizon 2020 is the EU’s main framework programme and funding tool to support research and innovation
(R&I). The €1 billion dedicated to coronavirus work can be broken down as follows: €400 million acts as
guarantee for European Investment Bank (EIB) lending to finance pre-commercial stage investments in
Covid-19 research and development. A further €150 million has been allocated to the European Innovation
Council (EIC) to support disruptive innovations on Covid-19. Its call for ideas to tackle the coronavirus
outbreak received the record number of almost 4 000 applications from 45 countries, more than 1 000 of
them from start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The remaining €450 million of Horizon 2020 funding will be allocated for developing scientific solutions for
testing, treating and preventing coronavirus, and to developing countries' health systems. In this context,
the European Commission has allocated some €48 million for 18 new research projects to advance the
understanding of the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, Covid-19. The projects, which involve
151 research teams from across Europe and abroad, have started work on developing rapid point-of-care
diagnostic tests, new treatments and vaccines, as well as improving preparedness and response to
outbreaks. Horizon 2020 is also supporting, with €45 million, the Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), a
public–private partnership, which launched an emergency call for proposals to develop treatments and
diagnostics to tackle Covid-19. Furthermore, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)
Health Knowledge Innovation Community mobilised €7 million for Covid-19 actions. To support the fight
against coronavirus abroad, Horizon 2020 is funding, with €25 million, the European and Developing
Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) to strengthen research capacities in sub-Saharan Africa.
European Research Area: Action plan against coronavirus
On 7 April 2020, the Member States’ research and innovation Ministers supported the European
Commission’s ERAvsCorona Action Plan. Building on the tools of the European Research Area (ERA), the
action plan will cover short-term coordinated actions based on better cooperation and data-sharing as well
as joint funding efforts. The 10 priorities are: (1) coordination of R&I funding against coronavirus;
(2) extending large, EU-wide clinical trials for clinical management of coronavirus patients; (3) new funding
for innovative and rapid health-related approaches and better preparedness of health systems;
(4) increasing support to innovative companies; (5) creating opportunities for other funding sources to
contribute to R&I actions on coronavirus; (6) establishing a one-stop shop for R&I funding to tackle the
coronavirus; (7) establishing an ad hoc high-level R&I task force on coronavirus; (8) access to research
infrastructures; (9) a research data-sharing portal; and (10) a pan-EU hackathon ( ) to mobilise
European innovators and civil society.
On its dedicated R&I website, the European Commission gives a rolling overview of the European Union’s
common response to tackle the coronavirus pandemic - the website is updated on a daily basis.
EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service
Author: Cemal Karakas, Members' Research Service
PE 651.906 – May 2020
This document is prepared for, and addressed to, the Members and staff of the European Parliament as background material to assist them in
their parliamentary work. The content of the document is the sole responsibility of its author(s) and any opinions expressed herein should not
be taken to represent an official position of the Parliament. Reproduction and translation for non-commercial purposes are authorised, provided
the source is acknowledged and the European Parliament is given prior notice and sent a copy. © European Union, 2020
