On 23 January 2012, Director General Robert-Jan Smits (DG Research) presented the Commission’s proposal on Horizon 2020 and the associated budget at the European Parliament’s ITRE Committee meeting chaired by its newly-elected chair Amalia Sartori MEP. Smits highlighted the substantial increase proposed for the new programme (i.e. 46%) as a proof of commitment to increase growth and competitiveness in Europe and outlined the three priorities of Horizon 2020 (Excellence in science; Industrial leadership; Societal challenges). Boosting industrial competitiveness is of utmost importance, as laid out in the Lisbon Strategy, he said.

Smits explicitly referred to Eurostars by saying that “the Commission will continue to support the Eurostars Programme for R&D SMEs which is implemented jointly by EUREKA and the European Commission”. Highlighting the Commission’s commitment to increase participation of SMEs in the programme, Smits explained that the new programme aims to be more “SME-friendly” building on the SBIR programme implemented in the U.S. and in some EU Member States. He added that equity for SMEs will be available under the new programme following the successful RSFF instrument under FP7.

Teresa Riera Madurell MEP, who has been appointed Rapporteur for Horizon 2020 Establishing Regulation, welcomed the Commission’s proposal by acknowledging the need for converting research results into products in Europe. She stressed that the Cohesion Policy should be the stairway to excellence and thus its complementarities with the research and innovation programme should be clarified.