EU funds working together for jobs & growth : examples of synergies between the framework programmes for research and innovation (Horizon 2020) and the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF)

Synergies between Horizon 2020 and the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) aim at maximising the quantity and quality of R&I investments. In doing so, synergies seek to bring together research and business communities as well as relevant national and regional policy designers and implementing bodies, thus ensuring a higher impact of the funds for a knowledge-based economic transformation. Developing synergies will ultimately lead to a positive effect on jobs, growth and competitiveness across Europe's diverse regions and will also give a greater push to open innovation in the European Union. This publication describes the rationale for developing links between the different funding sources and explains how they can be combined. It showcases examples of synergies that have emerged at strategic, programming and project implementation levels and also highlights initiatives with a high potential for synergies.