Research Executive Agency

REA, mandated by the European Commission to support the EU Research and Innovation policy, funds high-quality research and innovation projects that generate knowledge for the benefit of society.

Accordingly, REA’s responsibilities are to:

• help manage parts of Horizon 2020, the EU's framework programme for research and innovation
• run research projects supported under Horizon 2020 and FP7, its predecessor 
• provide support to its clients - funding applicants, beneficiaries and independent experts
• keep close contact with beneficiaries of EU funds
• manage the European Commission research enquiry service, which answers questions from grant applicants, EU-funded researchers and the public
• support independent experts evaluating project proposals competing for EU research funds, and helps with the legal and financial validation of programme participants

Research Executive Agency - Brochure English (3140 KB - PDF) Download PDF - 3140 KB

In the context of its 10th anniversary, REA analyses its evolution in terms of budget delegation and support services

Programmes

Project funding opportunities

Current funding programme Horizon 2020

The agency manages

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions - funds mobility of researchers across borders and sectors
• future and emerging technologies - funds collaboration between advanced multidisciplinary science and cutting-edge engineering
• space research - supports the European space research community in developing innovative technologies
• food security, sustainable agriculture and forestry, marine, maritime and inland water research and the bioeconomy
• innovative, inclusive and reflective societies - funds research projects addressing social exclusion, and inequality
• secure societies - aims to protect freedom and security of Europe and its citizens in a time of unprecedented global threats
• spreading excellence and widening participation - aims to optimise the strengths of each EU country
• science with and for society - aims to recruit new talent for science and pair scientific excellence with social awareness and responsibility

2007-2013 (7th framework programme for research and technological development) 

The Research Executive Agency is managing around 11,000 projects under the 7th framework programme for research and technological development (FP7), the predecessor of Horizon 2020, in these areas

• Marie Curie actions (people programme)
• research for the benefit of small business (SMEs) (capacities programme)
• space and security research (cooperation programme)

Governance