8 EU-Supported Breakthroughs in Research and Innovation
More than €283 billion invested in research. More than 30 Nobel Prizes won by EU-funded researchers, including seven in just the last four years.
This is the result of the EU supporting research and innovation over 40 years. A Eureka moment for the EU!
A Journey That Began in 1984
For us, it all began in 1984 with the first-ever EU research programme called the Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development, worth €3.75 billion. Back in the day, research was already focusing on topics such as pollution in coastal waters and renewable energy.
Over time, our investments in research and innovation have increased, and our focus has expanded to tackle global challenges, harness technology, and meet the changing needs of our societies.
As we celebrate 40 years of our research and innovation programs, let’s navigate together through eight examples of EU-funded progress, showcasing the invaluable contributions of researchers, scientists, and innovators to our world.
1. Turning CO₂ Into Stone
Cutting greenhouse gases in the atmosphere demands urgent solutions, and EU-funded scientists are stepping up to the challenge. What if we could suck CO₂ out of the air and store it deep underground as rock?
Reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere is vital for Europe to become climate-neutral by 2050. Scientists have pioneered a groundbreaking technology to remove CO₂ at source, such as a factory chimney, where it could be dissolved in water then solidified into a rock, preventing CO₂ from escaping back into the atmosphere. This technology could lead to more climate-friendly industries and help us meet climate targets. Interesting, isn’t it? Want to know more? Discover the science behind CO₂ solidification.
Project coordinator: Iceland. / Project participants: Iceland, France & Spain.
2. 3D Technology Reawakening Europe’s Past
A team of researchers from different EU countries used virtual and augmented reality to reconstruct cultural sites in 3D and make visiting them even more exciting! Picture this, it would be like travelling back in a virtual time machine. And this technology has much more to offer than just tourism applications; it can also help reveal buildings’ hidden secrets: how they were used in the past and how they evolved over centuries. Explore how it works.
Project coordinator: Italy. / Project participants: Slovenia, Greece, Cyprus, Croatia, Italy, Spain, The Netherlands, Germany, Bulgaria & France.
3. A New Material, One Atom Thick and Stronger than Diamond
Ever heard of graphene? The material is strong, light, flexible and able to conduct both heat and electricity. Graphene could be used in advanced electronics, batteries, high-performance composite materials, as well as innovative medical devices and sensors.
And thanks to the Graphene Flagship Project, the material is moving out of the laboratory and into the market. Graphene is already being used for sports, cars and planes. And work on graphene even earned EU-funded researchers the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2010! Now we got your attention? Check here for more about graphene’s potential.
Project coordinator: Sweden.
4. Tackling Space Debris
Space exploration has been made possible through pioneering EU-supported projects. Yet human-driven activity in space has led to a proliferation of debris orbiting the Earth.
An EU-funded project was the first low-cost mission to demonstrate several key technologies for debris removal in orbit, as part of the search for the best and most cost-effective methods of cleaning up space. Learn how we’re cleaning up space.
Project coordinator: United Kingdom / Project participants: France, Germany, The Netherlands, South Africa, Switzerland.
5. Greener Shipping Solutions
Researchers are taking ship design back to the future with an ancient concept — sails. But this time there’s not a scrap of sailcloth in sight!
The shipping industry is responsible for 3% of global carbon emissions. EU-funded research is looking into two bespoke vessel designs: a wind energy bulk carrier and a hydrogen-powered cruise ship with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 99 %, while saving at least 50 % energy. This way to explore green shipping technology.
Project coordinator: Finland / Project participants: Sweden, Poland, United Kingdom, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Norway, The Netherlands.
6. Innovative Chips for Less Power-hungry Smartphones
Chips, also known as semiconductors, though largely go unseen, are at the heart of all the digital products that surround us — from smartphones and computers to home appliances, life-saving equipment, communication and energy.
Cutting edge EU-financed technology has enabled the launch of a new generation of high-performance smartphones and other electronic devices. These devices feature powerful and efficient 7 nanometer-node chips that reduce power consumption and enhance performance. See how these chips power our devices.
Project coordinator: The Netherlands / Project participants: France, Belgium, Germany, Czechia, United Kingdom, Austria, Hungary.
7. Cracking the Emotional Code of Music
Have you ever noticed how the drumbeat in a film can get your blood pumping? Different sounds trigger different emotions, but how? An EU-funded project has given us a better understanding of what happens in the body and how sound affects the neuronal pathways in the brain. The work is inspiring novel clinical applications, from diagnosing speech problems to assessing brain surgery patients. Learn about the emotional impact of music.
Project coordinator: France.
8. Pioneering Surgery Advances
Back in the early 1990’s, EU-supported researchers proved that it was possible to produce accurate medical models based on medical image data. They ensured that all relevant information from the images could be transferred to the surgeon. In the years that followed, experts also worked together to address rare diseases, fight cancer, control major virus outbreaks, pioneer vaccine research and much more! Discover more about research and innovation in health.
Project coordinator: Belgium. Project participants: United Kingdom and Germany.
More information:
- Discover Horizon Magazine — bringing you the latest news and features about thought-provoking science and innovative research projects funded by the EU.
- Check out our detailed Success Stories database where you can filter projects per country and theme!
- Explore the available EU funding opportunities through our Funding and Tenders Portal.
