Horizon Europe (Horizon Europe)
is currently the largest and most important programme funding science, research and innovation projects in the European Union for the 2021-2027 programming period.
→ Go to the separate section on Horizon Europe
COST Programme
COST is part of the Horizon Europe programme under the “Disseminating Excellence and Widening Participation” area.
COST, or European Cooperation in Science and Technology, is a research networking tool called COST Actions. Researchers can create a network based on their own research interests and ideas by submitting a proposal in any scientific field to an open COST call. These networks offer an open space for collaboration between scientists across Europe and beyond.
Who is the programme suitable for? Researchers and innovators from universities, public and private research organisations, NGOs, industry and SMEs.
National Contact Point:
Kvetoslava Papanová
National Horizon Office, Centre for Scientific and Technical Information of the Slovak Republic
NCP for the ‘Disseminating Excellence and Widening Participation‘ area of Horizon Europe
+421 917 733 509 | kvetoslava.papanova@cvtisr.sk
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Erasmus+ is the European Union’s programme to promote education, training, youth and sport in Europe. Its budget finances learning mobility and cross-border cooperation projects. It places a strong emphasis on social inclusion, green and digital transformation, and promoting young people’s participation in democratic life.
This unique programme now covers all sectors of education and training. Europeans see it as the EU’s third most positive achievement after free movement and peace.
Who is the programme suitable for? Organisations and institutions active in the fields of education (mainly universities, secondary schools), training activities, youth and sport. Some youth activities are also suitable for groups of individuals.
The programme is managed by the European Commission’s Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
National Contact Point:
Erasmus+ National Agency (SAAIC)
+421 2 209 222 01 | erasmusplus@saaic.sk
Slovak Youth Institute (IUVENTA)
+421 2 592 963 24 | erasmusplus@iuventa.sk
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Digital Europe is the EU’s new programme to make digital technologies accessible to businesses, citizens and public administrations. It is implemented in the programming period 2021-2027.
The Digital Europe Programme provides grants to projects in five key areas:
- supercomputers,
- Artificial Intelligence,
- Cybersecurity,
- advanced digital skills and
- Ensuring the widespread use of digital technologies across the economy and society, including through Digital Innovation Hubs.
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations, government departments, cities, associations and NGOs.
The programme is managed by the European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA).
National contact point: Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (MIRRI SR).
Contact person
Marek Tóth
Department for directly managed EU programmes and digital infrastructures
Digital Agenda Section of MIRRI SR
Westend Court, Dúbravská cesta 4, Bratislava
+421 2 2092 8210 | marek.toth@vicepremier.gov.sk
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EU4Health is an ambitious funding programme for 2021-2027, responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new EU4Health programme goes beyond crisis response to address the resilience of healthcare systems in the EU.
The programme has 4 main objectives:
- to improve and promote health in the Union;
- address cross-border health threats;
- Improve the quality of medicines, medical devices and crisis-related products;
- Strengthen health systems, increase their resilience and make more efficient use of resources.
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations, government departments, cities, associations and NGOs.
The programme is managed by the European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA).
National contact point: Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic.
Contact person:
Zuzana Matlonova
International Projects and International Policies Implementation Unit
Section of European Programmes and Projects of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic
+421 2 59 373 308 | zuzana.matlonova@health.gov.sk
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Creative Europe is the European Commission’s flagship programme to support culture and the audiovisual sector. The programme consists of 3 components:
The main objectives of the programme include:
- Protect, develop and promote Europe’s cultural and linguistic diversity and heritage;
- increase the competitiveness and economic potential of the cultural and creative industries, in particular the audiovisual sector.
Who is the programme suitable for? Organisations active in the development, promotion and distribution of films and audiovisual works, organisations and professionals in the fields of music, literature, architecture, design and cultural heritage, news media.
The programme is managed by the European Commission’s Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
National contact point: Creative Europe Desk Slovakia.
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LIFE is the European Union’s flagship programme for nature, biodiversity and climate change. For the 2021-2027 programming period, the LIFE Programme consists of 4 sub-programmes:
- Sub-programme: Nature and biodiversity
- Sub-programme: Circular economy and quality of life
- Sub-programme: Climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Sub-programme: Transition to clean energy
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations, government departments, cities, associations and NGOs.
The programme is managed by the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA).
National contact point: Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic.
Contact persons:
Elena Molnárová
Environmental Programmes and Projects Section
Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic
+421 906 314 266 | elena.molnarova@enviro.gov.sk
Denis Knotka
Environmental Programmes and Projects Section
Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic
+421 906 314 245 | denis.knotka@enviro.gov.sk
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The Innovation Fund is one of the world’s largest funding programmes for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies.
The objectives of the Innovation Fund include:
- create financial incentives for projects that invest in the next generation of technologies needed for the EU’s transition to a low-carbon economy;
- Promote growth and competitiveness by enabling EU companies to pioneer new technologies;
- support innovative low-carbon technologies in all Member States in their deployment and market uptake.
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations, government departments.
The programme is managed by the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA).
National contact point: Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic.
Contact person:
Zuzana Šturdíková
Ministry of the Environment of the Slovak Republic
+421 2 5956 2582 | zuzana.sturdikova@enviro.gov.sk
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The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is the EU’s key funding instrument for promoting growth, jobs and competitiveness through targeted infrastructure investment at European level.
The programme consists of three components:
The CEF Energy and CEF Transport components are managed by the European Commission’s Executive Agency for Climate, Infrastructure and Environment (CINEA) and the CEF Digital component is managed by the European Commission’s Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA).
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations, government departments, cities, associations and NGOs.
National contact point
- CEF Energy: Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic.
- CEF Transport: the Ministry of Transport and Construction of the Slovak Republic.
- CEF Telecom: Ministry of Investment, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic (MIRRI SR).
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InvestEU is a programme bringing together several European financial instruments to support investment in the EU. It brings together the European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) and 13 other financial instruments.
It consists of the components:
The InvestEU programme supports 4 main segments: 1. Sustainable infrastructure, 2. Research, innovation and digitalisation, 3. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), 4. Social investment and skills.
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations, government departments, cities, associations and NGOs.
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The European Space Programme brings together all existing and new EU space activities into one integrated programme. The main objectives of the programme are to ensure EU leadership in space activities, support innovative industries, ensure autonomous access to space and simplify management.
It includes the flagship programmes Galileo, EGNOS and Copernicus. It will enable the launch of European initiatives in the field of satellite communications(GOVSATCOM) and in the field of space situational awareness(SSA) to protect space infrastructure from space debris.
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations, government departments, cities, associations and NGOs.
The programme is managed by the EU Executive Agency for the EU Space Programme (EUSPA).
National Contact Point:
Karolína Havlíčková
Centre of Scientific and Technical Information of the Slovak Republic
+421 918 766 814 | karolina.havlickova@cvtisr.sk
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The European Defence Fund (EDF) is a key initiative of the European Commission to support collaborative research and development of defence capabilities from the EU budget.
In the programming period 2021-2027, the Fund will financially support consortia of entities from different Member States engaged in collaborative research and development of defence products and technologies. The Fund also includes mechanisms to encourage small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to participate in cross-border defence projects.
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations, government departments.
The programme is managed by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Defence and Space (DG DEFIS).
National coordinator: the Ministry of Defence of the Slovak Republic.
Contact points:
Ivan Šteflik
Research and Technology Support Unit, Modernisation Section of the MOSR
+421 960 317 578 | ivan.steflik@mod.gov.sk
Igor Dobrovič
Liaison officer, Permanent Representation to the EU in Brussels
+32 2 7436 731 | igor.dobrovic@mil.sk
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The Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) supports research and innovation projects in coal and steel. Each year, around €40 million is available to universities, research centres and private companies to fund projects.
RFCS-funded projects include steel production processes, optimisation of resource use and conservation, energy savings and industrial efficiency improvements, occupational health and safety, environmental protection, technologies supporting coal regions in transition, and reduction of emissions from steel production.
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations.
The programme is managed by the European Commission’s Research Executive Agency (REA).
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The Single Market Programme is a new EU programme to empower and protect consumers and enable small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to thrive. The programme brings together 5 previous EU programmes, including COSME, into a single framework.
The programme pursues the following objectives:
- maintain a high level of food safety;
- to achieve an even higher level of consumer protection;
- increase the competitiveness of businesses, especially SMEs;
- improve single market governance and compliance;
- Produce and disseminate quality statistics;
- develop effective European standards.
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations, government departments, cities, associations and NGOs.
National contact point: Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic.
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EUREKA is a public network for international cooperation in research, development and innovation, operating in more than 45 countries. The EUREKA network promotes market-oriented research and the beneficiaries are companies and research institutes willing to collaborate on specific projects at international level.
The EUREKA network consists of several programmes:
EUREKA operates as an intergovernmental organisation and is not a direct funding instrument. The projects are financed in a decentralised way through the funding agencies of the Member States.
Who is the programme suitable for? SMEs, large enterprises, universities, public and private research organisations.
National coordinator: the Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic.
National Contact Point:
Martin Kontrík
Department for the Implementation of State Policy, European and International Research and Development Initiatives
Science and Technology Section of the Ministry of Education and Science
+421 2 5937 4754 | martin.kontrik@minedu.sk
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