The year 2023 marked a record-breaking year for Portuguese participation in Cluster 6 of Horizon Europe, achieving the highest number of approved projects (80), the most coordinated projects (9), and the largest amount of funding secured (€51 million), reflecting a financial return rate exceeding 3.5%.
Cluster 6 encompasses areas such as Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture, and Environment, as well as the Oceans & Waters and Soil Missions and the Circular Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).
A total of 310 proposals with Portuguese participation were submitted in 2023, achieving a success rate above 25%, comparable to the European average. One in every four Portuguese proposals submitted to Cluster 6 receives funding. The funded projects involve 174 entities from all regions of Portugal, except Madeira, with over 30% from the business sector and nearly 50% from R&D institutions.
Under the previous funding program, Horizon 2020, Portuguese entities secured approximately €150 million in areas now part of Cluster 6. Within just the first three years of Horizon Europe, national entities have already secured €128 million, representing more than 85% of the total obtained during Horizon 2020’s seven years in the Food, Bioeconomy, and Environment domains.
Among the most successful participants in the 2023 Cluster 6 calls is the Association of Instituto Superior Técnico for Research and Development (IST-ID), distinguished for its number of projects and the diversity of programs involved (three in Cluster 6, two in CBE JU, and one in the Oceans & Waters Mission). IST-ID also stands out for securing €2.2 million in funding and coordinating two national projects (one in Cluster 6 and one in CBE JU).
In addition to the BioValue project (2022-2025), IST-ID now coordinates the FEASTS project (2023-2026) and the Polymers-5B project (2024-2028), both approved in the 2023 calls.
Other notable participants include seven Portuguese Collaborative Laboratories (+Atlantic, FeedInov, F4S, More, S2Aqua, ADVID/CoLAB VINES&WINES, B2E) and three municipalities (Vila Nova de Famalicão, Barreiro, and Olhão).
From 2021 to 2023, Portugal secured €128 million in Cluster 6 of Horizon Europe, including contributions to the Oceans & Waters and Soil Missions and the Circular Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking (CBE JU).
The National Innovation Agency (ANI) is responsible for supporting national participation in Cluster 6 of Horizon Europe.
