Welsh businesses and universities have secured more than €50m in funding from the EU’s largest research and innovation programme, Horizon 2020, recent statistics have revealed.

The programme, managed directly by the European Commission, invests in cross-border projects aimed at making innovative and scientific breakthroughs, and developing world-class products and services.

Since Horizon 2020 was launched in 2014, more than 100 Welsh organisations have been successful in winning €54.1m of EU funds to work on pan-European projects.

St Asaph based semiconductor manufacturer, SmartKem Ltd, has recently been successful in securing €1.8m of EU funds to lead a Horizon 2020 project to accelerate flexible semiconductor adoption in Asia. The project will see SmartKem collaborate with experts across Europe over the next two years.

To support Welsh organisations bidding for Horizon 2020 projects, the Welsh Government is assisting with bid-writing and travel costs through its SCoRE Cymru fund. To date, 69 organisations, mostly SMEs, have accessed over £300,000 from the Welsh Government to support their applications to the European Commission for Horizon 2020 funding.

Welcoming the news, Finance Secretary, Mark Drakeford said:

“Horizon 2020 is providing real opportunities for Welsh businesses and universities to be at the forefront of research and innovation, and to collaborate with leading organisations across Europe.

This is a very competitive programme so I’m delighted we have passed the €50m milestone. This is important investment in research and innovation that is enabling Welsh organisations to play their part in delivering some truly ground-breaking projects.”