"Horizon 2020 is the biggest Framework Programme for Research and Innovation of the European Commission, to support and foster research in the European Research Area (ERA) for the period of 2014-2020, with nearly €80 billion of funding available.
Horizon 2020 is the financial instrument implementing the Innovation Union, a Europe 2020 flagship initiative aimed at securing Europe's global competitiveness - drive economic growth and create jobs.

Horizon 2020 is also implementing the European environmental research and innovation policy, which is aimed at defining and turning into reality a transformative agenda for greening the economy and the society as a whole so as to achieve a truly sustainable development.

The programme consists of three main research areas that are called ""pillars"": The first pillar, ""Excellent Science"", focuses on basic science. It has a budget of 24 billion euro. The second pillar is ""Industrial Leadership"", with a budget of 14 billion euro. It is managed by DG Enterprise and based on Europe 2020 and Innovation Union strategies. The third pillar funds potential solutions to social and economic problems, ""Societal challenges"" (SC)."