Brussels among the leaders of Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe is the European Union’s flagship funding programme for research and innovation. With an impressive budget of €93.5 billion for the period 2021–2027, it supports projects addressing today’s and tomorrow’s major societal challenges — from climate change and health to digitalisation and sustainable mobility.

As with its predecessor Horizon 2020 (2014–2020), Horizon Europe funds are allocated through open and competitive calls. For organisations and companies in the Brussels Region, the programme offers not only financial opportunities, but also access to international networks, partnerships and markets.

Brussels in the spotlight

The figures in the first statistical report from hub.brussels on the Brussels-Capital Region’s participation in Horizon Europe speak for themselves. Between 2021 and 2024, €1.2 billion in funding was awarded to Brussels-based organisations, placing the Region 4th in Europe in terms of funding received through approved projects — only major cities like Paris, Munich and Barcelona rank higher. This achievement highlights the international nature of our capital: Brussels-based partners collaborate with no fewer than 156 countries as part of Horizon Europe.

Compared to other Belgian regions, Brussels organisations remain particularly active in the programme; 43% of all Belgian Horizon Europe funding applications originate from the Brussels Region. In concrete terms, that represents over 10,000 submitted applications, corresponding to 7,716 research project proposals (a single project can involve multiple submissions).

And with success: nearly one in four of these proposals were accepted by the European Commission, with the help of ncp.brussels (hosted in Brussels by hub.brussels). 

When looking for European funding, you’re faced with a multitude of programmes — it’s complex. NCP Brussels helped us identify the right funding and submit our application.
We secured two grants. The first (BeeOimpact 2023–2025, an EIC Accelerator) worth €1.7 million to develop new technology and software to monitor biodiversity using satellite images and AI.
The second (BeeOmetrics 2024–2027, an EIC Transition Challenge) worth €2 million to develop a system that tracks biodiversity through bees.

— Michaël van Cutsem, CEO and founder of Beeodiversity

SMEs make the difference

Brussels’ small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are clearly finding their way in Horizon Europe. 111 Brussels SMEs have been selected as beneficiaries. Together, they represent 371 accepted applications, totalling €140 million in funding and accounting for 39% of all Horizon Europe funding granted to Belgian SMEs. Moreover, Brussels-based SME’s account for 77% of the Horizon Europe funding granted to the Belgian private sector.

These figures highlight the innovative nature of Brussels’ entrepreneurial ecosystem and demonstrate that local businesses not only generate strong ideas, but also succeed in turning them into competitive, EU-funded projects. Horizon Europe acts as a lever not just for international collaboration, but also for sustainable growth and the competitiveness of the Brussels economy.

Climate, energy and mobility remain top priorities

The Brussels-based projects supported by Horizon Europe are closely aligned with the Region’s political priorities:

• 17% of funding went to climate, energy and mobility projects;

• 10% was allocated to the digital, industrial and space sectors – fields with high R&D potential and strategic importance for Europe’s technological advancement;

• 10% went to agri-food, agriculture and bioeconomy sectors, which increasingly focus on sustainability, circularity and health;

• 9% was dedicated to high risk innovation (cross-sector);

• 7% was allocated to the health sector, with an emphasis on prevention, digital healthcare and drug development;

• 7% was invested in European missions (see report p.33).

When starting a business, you face major challenges and limited resources. NCP Brussels guided us through a complex funding landscape.
Be prepared to be challenged by NCP Brussels, and don’t be afraid to trust your project — they are truly good at what they do.

— Philippe Detheux, Public and Institutional Affairs, In Between International

Need help with Horizon Europe? NCP Brussels is here for you

For those wishing to benefit from Horizon Europe support, the network of National Contact Points (NCPs) offers free and personalised guidance in your search for funding. hub.brussels manages the presidency of the NCP in Brussels.

Get in touch with the Belgian NCP via ncp.brussels and learn more about the data and what the programme means for the Region via the interactive ‘Horizon Europe’ publication on analytics.brussels.