Abstract

Horizon 2020, a new EU framework program, seeks to respond to the need for revitalizing our “model” of society — a need exposed by the economic recession and the concurrent social and political crisis that have afflicted Europe for almost five years now. Research and innovation are to play a major role in this process, and their a scope should extend beyond the purely economic. In this context, Horizon 2020 will provide backing for a wide variety of activities ranging from basic research to the marketing of new products and the development of new processes, systems and services, including social innovations. This program’s design has significantly changed the usual channels of funding by adopting a multidisciplinary approach for diversifying the means of intervention and stimulating interactions between different technological fields and industries.