Positive overall balance: Around 130 million euros in EU research funding went to Saarland institutions and companies under Horizon 2020

Saarbrücken, March 31, 2021 - After the conclusion of the European Union's eighth framework program for research and innovation "Horizon 2020" in December of last year, the overall balance for the Saarland is positive: Saarland universities, non-university research institutions and companies have raised around 130 million euros over the past seven years.

Compared to the total volume of 91 million euros achieved in the predecessor program "FP7", the Saarland was able to increase its fundraising in "Horizon 2020" by 40 %, which is also above the national average. A total of 32 Saarland institutions with 216 project participations took part in almost 200 EU projects in "Horizon 2020". This is also a strong increase compared to the predecessor program.

The top position in the acquisition of funding is occupied by the non-university research institutions with 41% of the acquired Saarland EU funding, 27% is accounted for by the Saarland universities and 32% by the Saarland companies. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) perform particularly well: With an SME share of more than 30% of the total funding, Saarland is ahead of all other federal states and clearly above the national average.

In addition to a significant increase in funding for non-university research institutions, the increase in the total amount is primarily due to the outstanding performance of Saarland scientists obtaining funding as part of the European Research Council's excellence funding. Compared to the predecessor program, the funds acquired in this area of EU funding were almost doubled.

This successful course must now be maintained and further expanded in the new EU research framework program "Horizon Europe": With a total budget of €95.5 billion over a seven-year period (2021 - 2027), it is one of the world's largest public funding programs for research and innovation.

The expiration of "Horizon 2020" also marks the end of the "Route 2025" initiative coordinated by Saarland University, which has supported researchers and companies over the past two years in applying for EU funding and successfully integrating into European research and innovation projects. The declared goal of the "Route 2025" team was, through the various measures in the project, to help the Saarland attract 100 million euros by the end of "Horizon 2020". In view of the clear surpassing of this target mark, the project managers also draw a positive conclusion. In addition, the project database developed as part of the initiative with access to the nearly 200 Saarland "Horizon 2020" participations as well as a number of project portraits and success stories remain available on the initiative's website (www.route2025.eu).

About Route 2025

"Route2025" is a project of Saarland University, funded by the State Chancellery with funds from Saarland and by the European Union within the framework of the program "European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)". In the implementation of the various Route2025 measures, Saar University is supported by the established EU project management office Eurice.

Further information as well as the project database on Saarland participations in "Horizon 2020" can be found at: www.route2025.eu

Questions will be answered by:
Nina Christmann
Saarland University
T: +49 681 302-3892
nina.christmann@uni-saarland.de | forschung@uni-saarland.de